Pat's Schoolhouse

[windie]

Rainbow98:

Hi Mummies,


I am looking into enrolling my kid at Pat's Whitley for nursery this yr ? Any comments appreciated. Tks.

Depending on which level of nursery your child is going to, i would suggest having a chat with the Principal and the teachers themselves. Most of the teachers in Whitley are new to Pat's. My child used to go to Whitley.

[DesertWind]

windie:

My child used to go to Whitley.

Hello Windie!

Considering that Pat Whitley only started operations this year, you must have just placed your child there for a short while? Did you have any bad experience there?

Not that I am hoping to hear a lot of complains since I have more or less decided to place my kid there but you can pm me to share if you like!

Cheers!

[Rainbow98]

Hi Windie,


I am looking at nursery level for kids turning 4 years old. Can you let me know what complaints u had assuming yr child was only there a short while ? Appreciate it. Tks ![/quote]

[DC Mummy]

Compared to some other preschools, I noticed that Pat’s nursery classroom seems provide very little colourful posters, letters, pictures and even fewer toys. Any parents share the same sentiment?


I have seen some franchise preschools with very vibrant and colourful picture, words, letterland pasted on the wall. Also, they provide more variety types of toys…

[DesertWind]

DC Mummy:

Compared to some other preschools, I noticed that Pat's nursery classroom seems provide very little colourful posters, letters, pictures and even fewer toys. Any parents share the same sentiment?


I have seen some franchise preschools with very vibrant and colourful picture, words, letterland pasted on the wall. Also, they provide more variety types of toys.......

Hi DC Mummy!

Yes, I too noticed that there were very little toys, blocks etc. inside the classes itself although there were quite a number of outdoor toys like scooters, tricycles, cars etc. I was visiting one other branch and asked the principal about it. She replied that it was because it wasn't play time hence there were no toys around. Sounds reasonable to me I suppose because they were having lessons and teachers were teaching them from books or from the board I saw. Perhaps to prevent the kids from being distracted.

I visited one branch of Learning Vision and noticed quite a number of toys, wooden bricks etc. on the wooden shelves surrounding the class and I asked the teacher what happens if during lesson time the kid got distracted and started playing with those toys/games? She said the teacher will have a way of telling the kid that it is not time for toys / games and redirect them to the present activity the class is doing. Well....not sure which is better....
:?

Cheers!
Gina :celebrate:

[DC Mummy]

Hi DesertWind


That’s quite true. Thinking back, my DS used to attend a weekly playgroup (with parent accompanied) when he was 2 years old in one of the franchise CC, I remembered there were many toys on shelves in the class. So, he was quite distracted and tend to play on his own. Same applied to other children in the same weekly class…

Earlier, I didn’t think about them being distracted by the toys / posters surrounded, I thought they were probably being too young to sit through the programme. It came to my mind to raise this topic when comparing other preschool classroom layout to Pat’s, esp when I have seen some preschool with very nice colourful surrounding, so it makes me feel that Pat’s classroom sort of boring…

Yes, I agree that there are tricyles, cars, playground for outdoor activities in the pat’s school. Come to think about it again, it is still better for them to enjoy outdoor activities, get some fresh air than just playing the toys indoor alone …

[butterwaffles]

I'll be viewing the one at Arena soon as i live at the Jurong West extension area. After reading all the comments here, i'm now worried :slapshead: Will feedback here when i'm done viewing the place. The fees are really very expensive so my expectations are higher too.

[mtdt]

I shd be starting at Pats whitley in july 2010 for their new nursery class (2006kid). now tat I read windie post, starts to get paranoid again!

Windie - Pls also PM me on your comments for Whitley centre in particular. Thanks.

one observation:
the new pricipal seems to have not much planning… few questions I post to her all came back with a "I do not know yet" as answer! so fustrating!

Question 1:
As my son wld be joining a new nursery class of 6-7kids, thus I asked her wld she be starting all the kids on 1st July or staggered them?
Ans: I do not know yet

Question 2:
As tis is a "small" class of 8kids max with 1 teacher (Usual class is 16kids with one eng tr /one chinese tr). What would happen when comes to K1?
(Ultimately I still hope my boy be a normal size class with 1eng tr and 1chi tr, I do believe strongly in the bilingual exposure).
Ans: 1 do not know yet.

ARGH!!!

And also principal is also teaching during the day. Wonder how much time does she really have to oversee the centre/admin etc.

[windie]

mtdt:

I shd be starting at Pats whitley in july 2010 for their new nursery class (2006kid). now tat I read windie post, starts to get paranoid again!

Windie - Pls also PM me on your comments for Whitley centre in particular. Thanks.

one observation:
the new pricipal seems to have not much planning.... few questions I post to her all came back with a \"I do not know yet\" as answer! so fustrating!

Question 1:
As my son wld be joining a new nursery class of 6-7kids, thus I asked her wld she be starting all the kids on 1st July or staggered them?
Ans: I do not know yet

Question 2:
As tis is a \"small\" class of 8kids max with 1 teacher (Usual class is 16kids with one eng tr /one chinese tr). What would happen when comes to K1?
(Ultimately I still hope my boy be a normal size class with 1eng tr and 1chi tr, I do believe strongly in the bilingual exposure).
Ans: 1 do not know yet.

ARGH!!!

And also principal is also teaching during the day. Wonder how much time does she really have to oversee the centre/admin etc.

Your observation is quite an accurate reflection of the situation

[myWQ]

I’m considering Pat’s, and realised they take quite some time to reply to my emails. When I called, I didn’t even get to speak to the Principal. Are they so popular that they don’t have time to entertain new enquires?