Pat's Schoolhouse

[crystalbelle08]

DC Mummy:

My DS is in the playgroup (Full Day) at Serangoon branch. Ratio is 2 : 14 with 1 English and Chinese teacher around. If the teacher is on leave, there will be another teacher taking over, unless there is a shortage of teacher (ie teachers on leave or medical leave) But i would say,most of the time, both english and chinese teachers are there. Just to highlight, some of the teachers work half day and balance half p.m maybe take over by another teacher. Most of the learning programme in a.m, so pm is more like having lunch, taking shower, taking nap and relax activities (ie stories / cooking / music). I know this because I send my boy to school everyday.


Subsidy for full time working mum is $300.

Hi DC mummy,
I may be enrolling for playgroup next year at Serangoon branch. Still cannot decide if i should remain in Mt Emily and move to Serangoon.
Anyway, I also cannot decide if i should let my kid stay in half day or full day program next year.
I figured 3pm extended program is not worth it as it will be spent on sleeping and snacks.
After 3pm will there be more of a enrichment activities?
Are these enrichment enough to bring them to primary one?
As in, Pats' kids still need to go for weekend enrichment?

[pummanuel]

mint:

I would like to put my son's name down on the waiting list for next year. As I'm not in Singapore right now, I have emailed them (Buckley) a couple of times without any reply. I'd really appreciate any advice based on your experience in making the application as I'm hoping I can do this without having to go in person.

Hi Mint, I hope I'm not too late in answering your question.

I registered my daughter via Pat's online registration system in Aug 2008 for 2009 playgroup (Serangoon). The next day I received a call from Siew Hong, the school admin, to confirm my registration and subsequently a few correspondences between the then Principal, Ms Donna and myself. I finalised the registration in Oct, i.e. fill in forms and submit cheque. I was lucky as I learnt that was the last year before the centre was overwhelmed with applications for 2007 and 2008 babies. The current Principal, Ms Wee, told me they had to turn away 40 applications in 2009 and 100 applications this year as the waiting list was just too long.

I think for parents who are keen to register their children with Pat's but based overseas, it will be better to register through the online system than to email. I believe the school has to attend to system generated applications as there will be an audit trail.

[pummanuel]

arielle08:

Anyone know why their school holidays are usually not in line with the mainstream? Heard from other kids mummy that that has always been the trend.

I was told by teachers at my daughter's centre that this is a form of welfare for them, i.e so that they can have longer weekends to rest, bond with their own families as well as attend team building activities organised by the sch mgt. Like the recent Teacher's Day, instead of Wed, they had it on Fri.

[pummanuel]

crystalbelle08:

However, i notice that they are taking in more and more students which is far from what the website claim.
My gal is in the toddler class and according to Pat's website,
Teacher-Toddler Ratio: 1:6 (MCYS Recommended 1:8)
Currently her class has 16 students, 2 teacher.

Hi Crystalbelle08,

My daughter is with Serangoon. Last year in PG, her class ratio was 2:15. This year in Nursery, her class ratio was 2:17, then 1 girl left and it's 2:16 now. But I'm also worried if the ratio will be kept low in future.

With KU at the helm, I believe there will be a business need for the school to expand but with so many preschools expanding too, there will be a shortage for good preschool teachers.

[pummanuel]

kboon2009:

Timtams:

Hi to all,


I'm looking for a playgroup for my daughter. Wondering if anyone can share their experience for Pat's schhses in the east (ie, either siglap or katong). What is the fee like?

Thanks!

You can find the fees listed in http://www.childcarelink.gov.sg
I'm also interested to know if there's any feedback on the Pat's in the east, in particular Katong/Meyer Road branch.

Thanks!

Hi Timtams and kboon2009

I was told by Pat's teachers that of the centres in the east, Katong has a more cohesive team i.e Principal has strong leadership and teachers are more experienced. But I guess this sentiment is accurate as of now only since over time, teachers come and go.

[shiyunu]

Hi Crystalbelle08,


The principal was not ard when I submitted the reg form as she was on leave. However, a teacher Audrey attended to me. She explained that if next year’s playgroup is 21 children. She will put 3 teachers in the class. If the class is > 21 ( think max is 28), they will have 2 playgroup class, 2 teachers in a class. So think ratio is still abt 1:7. This cld only be cfm much later as they r still in the midst of collating the no. of promotees & new children. Perhaps we can check in Nov since they don allow withdrawal in Nov.

[debpch]

Hi,

The waiting list for Serangoon is soooo long… We were told to try Mt Emily. Any views of Mt Emily?
How are the teachers?
Is the turn-over rate high?
Air-con vs non-air-con…

I am wondering if I should enrol for full or half-day…
My kid will be in playgroup next year. Are there any meaningful activties in the afternoon?
I have a preference for half-day but the logistics involved to pick the kid up in the afternoon is mind-boggling :!:

In addition, there is the separation anxiety thingy & falling sick period… half-day vs full-day, any difference?

need some advice cos i am really new to all this…

[crystalbelle08]

shiyunu:

Hi Crystalbelle08,


The principal was not ard when I submitted the reg form as she was on leave. However, a teacher Audrey attended to me. She explained that if next year's playgroup is 21 children. She will put 3 teachers in the class. If the class is > 21 ( think max is 28), they will have 2 playgroup class, 2 teachers in a class. So think ratio is still abt 1:7. This cld only be cfm much later as they r still in the midst of collating the no. of promotees & new children. Perhaps we can check in Nov since they don allow withdrawal in Nov.

Hi Shiyunu,
We have to keep our fingers crossed.
The thought of having 21 children in a class is scary, even though there may be 3 teachers. When the main teacher is speaking, she will have to maintain eye contacts with 21 kids! They are only 3 years old next year. The class will be chaotic with so many children.

There are already 16 children in toddlers group this year.
And if none of them leaves, these 16 children will be \"promoted\" to playgroup
I guess its very easy to reach \"21\" children.
If that is the case, I rather they increase the number of children to 28 and form 2 classes.
At least there are lesser number of children (14) in each class.

[crystalbelle08]

debpch:

Hi,

The waiting list for Serangoon is soooo long... We were told to try Mt Emily. Any views of Mt Emily?
How are the teachers?
Is the turn-over rate high?
Air-con vs non-air-con...

I am wondering if I should enrol for full or half-day..
My kid will be in playgroup next year. Are there any meaningful activties in the afternoon?
I have a preference for half-day but the logistics involved to pick the kid up in the afternoon is mind-boggling :!:

In addition, there is the separation anxiety thingy & falling sick period... half-day vs full-day, any difference?

need some advice cos i am really new to all this...

Hi debpch,
Your kid will be in playgroup next year? So our kids will be classmates, together with Shiyunu's. Your kid has not been to any preschool before?
If that is the case, maybe take a while for him to get used to. May be better to let him start with a half day program 1st. then when he is used to the school, transfer him to full day if that is what u prefer.
There is school bus and most kids take school bus so not to worry about transport.

Cannot advice u on the meaningful activities in the afternoon.
Maybe u can enquire with the school and update us?? :lol:

The school is non air con, its fairly small compared to the other Pat's like Serangoon.
I would say its less than half of Serangoon's.
The teachers are friendly and the children love the teacher.
Apart from the toddler's class which is a classroom on its own, the rest of the kids from playgroup onwards, shared a big room with the rest of the kids till K2.
they are separated by partition which i think can be very distracting because you can hear what is going on \"next door\"
You may wish to drop by and check out during lesson time.

I believe most of the other Pat's has individual classrooms for children at different level? I know Serangoon has individual classrooms.

[MLJ]

Hi crystalbelle08,


So would you recommend the Mt Emily branch even though the teacher to kid ratio is not ideal? sorry to keep asking but I am now going to pull my kid from St James but now deciding between Pat’s and Eton.