PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[tamarind]

Dawn Ng:

Hi,


I'm new to this forum and just want to share my experience about PCF.

My daughter is also in the \"premium\" PCF at 662B Jurong West. She is in K1 this year. I'm glad that this year the school assigned a teacher to the class. Last year was not the case. The school assigned the Chinese teacher as the class teacher and she only teached Chinese lesson. For English lesson, another teacher will take over. The Chinese teacher need to teach Chinese lesson for other classes as well so my daughther's class was like under \"no proper teacher\" situation. As a result, the children's progress was affected. Many parents were unhappy and had feedback to the principle but unfortunately there were no improvement.

As for this year (K1), the teacher is great (not the same teacher in N2, both the Chinese and English teachers no longer teaching in the school). She is nice and firm to the children. The children are quite well behaved in the class. The Chinese teacher (Lin 老师）is also very good. My daughter's Chinese has improved a lot.

So, in my opinion, not only different school has different standard, the principal or the head centre and the teacher also play a part.

Hi Dawn,
I think my younger boy was in the same class as your girl last year in N2 !

The Chinese teacher is Wu 老师 right ? Actually I thought she is pretty good too. I did not have any complains though. My boy was often sick last year (his immunity was weak) and often missed a lot of classes, so perhaps I don't know enough about his N2 class. I thought there is always a young Malay teacher teaching them English and Maths.

Teacher Jenny taught my older girl from K1 to K2, she is very good ! Yes you are right that the teacher plays the most important part. I think for different teachers, the materials may be different ?


Have you read my blog about my kids' PCF ? Are they still doing the same thing as in my girl's K1 class last year ?
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2009/01/pcf-kindergarten.html

[Dawn Ng]

Tamarind,


Yes, that was Teacher Wu and Teacher Lilian, there were 2 classes for N2 last year, I think your boy is under teacher Lilian class. Initially my girl’s class under teacher Rosni but she only teached for a month (if I remember correctly) and then left the school. After teacher Rosni left, there were no replacement. Teacher Wu so called took over and Teacher Lilian will help in English lesson.

[Dawn Ng]

Tamarind,


Sorry. My son disturbed me just now. I’m not saying the teacher is not good. Is the arrangement by the school. I know both of them trying their best but I think they cannot cope because Teacher Wu need to teach other classes for Chinese and Teacher Lilian has her own class to take care.

I have read your blog, is slightly different. this year they learn about, movement - gear, pulley system, kinetic energy and potential energy, water - water cycle and now on human body - 5 senses, the brain, disgestive, etc. As for spelling, the words are related to the theme.

[tamarind]

Dawn,

Thanks for sharing. I think their curriculum is definitely much more enriching than normal PCF. When I sent my girl to school, I saw a notice that all their N2, K1 and K2 have no vacancies already.

My son is now at the normal PCF at 665, which costs only $107 a month. Their standard is not so high, but I think they do prepare kids reasonably well for P1, with a lot of emphasis on reading and recognizing words. Since I am paying so little, I don't ask for the sky lah

[lu_meihua]

Hi, any feedback on the PCF Radin Mas at Blk 108 Bukit Purmei? Tks.

[tamarind]

I would like to share this review on PCF that uses the Reggio Emilia approach.

http://www.brainy-child.com/article/reggioemilia.html

Written by PrincessMomma (from Singaporemotherhood forum)
PCF Chong Pang Blk 309 is GREAT... it is Reggio Emilia Inspired.. Teachers work closely with children to cater their needs and interests.. teacher dont just teach, they facilitate, nurture and cultivate values...

and the centre doesnt believe in drawing the curtain... parents can just pop by to see what's happening in the class.. All teachers are professionally trained and held at least a Diploma In Early Childhood Education...

Children there are constantly being encouraged and have high self-esteem.. Children are not afraid of making mistakes, they can make a mess coz that's how children learn.. Even we as adult tend to make a mess at times.. =p

and if natellehcim said that her child couldnt even write when he was there, then what makes transfering to 317 better since she also had to send the child for enrichment class?

the point is, parents should view kindergarten as a place for children to develop his/her personality, confidence, social skills, building their motor skills and literally have fun during their early childhood days... Coz just when else can children have fun once they hit P1? If they're already being stress out in kindy, what make them happy in primary??

Play is very important..

A lot of life meaningful lessons are learnt through play... A child can just play the \"water play\" area, we should see the process that goes along with it, during that play, the child pick up maths, science concept such as measuring the water level, sink and float, heavy and light and etc..

And also if a child can spell Hippopotamus today, how can we be sure that the child can spell it again the following week..?

think about it... just a thought to share...

[nonKiasu]

Hi. May I know anyone has any experience and comment on the kindergarten program at PCF located at Blk 725 Tampines St 71?


My triplet are in K1 and have been in childcare since start of N2. I think they are spent most of the time playing and so I think they will learn more if they are in a kindergarten where teachers are not distracted in taking care of daily needs like bathing, etc.

(Well, putting them kindergarten means I have to be ‘converted’ to stay-home mum as they have so much time at home.)

Any comment on PCF located at Blk 725 Tampines St 71 is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[nonKiasu]

Hi. May I know anyone has any experience and comment on the kindergarten program at PCF located at Blk 725 Tampines St 71?

Any comment is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[trizia68]

Hi. May I know anyone has any experience and comment on the kindergarten program at PCF located at Blk 334 Woodlands St 32?

[nonKiasu]

Hi. I just called made some calls and realised that there are 3 PCF centres that are near my place! May I know anyone have the experience or heard anything abt PCF at Tampines Central Blk 713, 856 and 858? Blk 725 is for nusery and so not for my kids.


Also, can anyone share what is the diff between premium (if i caught the word correctly) and the basic/MOE program, other than air-cond and monthly fee?

Many thanks.