Share Your Preschool Review

Hello! Honestly ill shout this off rooftops again. Majority of the times its not the school brand but of course cannot deny that branding affects resources and curriculum of school. The three brands u mentioned usually fall into the same category of schools e.g. neighbourhood, heavily subsidised. In general its decent and helps the bulk of parents due to their costs and location near to hdb homes. So far from the teaching community its a hit and miss for these schools. Ive heard of teachers (some I personally know) having kind and professional principals but bad district managers (if thats their proper position name), or bad principals but super good teaching teams. Then theres branded schools with lavish resources and fees but still cannot guarantee the teachers will do their job with love or are treated nicely by their seniors. I share the same throughout the years and still end up with the collective checklist between us teachers/parents 1. Come down for school intro and see the professionalism of the principal. Do not fall for marketing like oh here we have music curriculum la, fancy schamancy extras. Ask difficult questions like do ur teachers have non contact time to do things like evaluation, lesson plans, material prep instead of them doing it while being with the kids (really dangerous ok? cannot bs and say after work hours they do then u and me both know teachers are overworked underpaid and under rested =unhealthy and exhausted teachers right) Theres not such thing as OT pay. What happens if class teacher is out on leave, are there floaters or adhoc teachers who can step in and care for the children proper? Or just throw random teachers in who barely wash butts and do lesson plans. 2. Focus on caring factors first. How does toileting happen? Whats the protocol for slightly sick children not fullblown flu etc because reality is parents don't have alternate care or enough leave? What happens if child is more difficult than usual? How kind are u to help? What happens if child doesnt meet milestone or flagged out with something? Will anyone say anything or just say nevermind next year teacher can recommend kkh dev check up. Because the later u are referred and get intervention it will snowball and the child will be on the losing end 😑 I always get hate for saying this but its a childcare not a tuition centre. The child needs to be safe happy and cared for like actually have showers after lunch and lots of hugs and attention, not that extra STEM lesson being marketed ok? If u dont agree let's just agree to disagree hor 3. Turnover rate. One principal told me oh cannot say one because people get married or quit after having babies. Um excuse u, people quit in droves because principal is toxic and bullying. One childcare i left precovid, 7 other colleagues left in the same December due to bad leadership and bully people not from her institution and religion even though the school is clearly secular.. Midtier preschool with 2k school fees per month. Go figure 🤢 4. And hardest to see is ethical and happy teachers. U can be a happy teacher but also entitled and a bully or even worse, racist af and thus an anxious class of kids. On the other hand we have hardworking teachers but lacking experience and professionalism but care for ur child the best?! The disparity is scary. So choose wisely? Be prepared to change schools. Never met a parent or even parent who is/was a teacher who chose one school and stuck all the way until k2, unless they work there too and can overlook their own kid or they really didnt know better. 5. Also the usual variables to look out for are closure dates, event dates, extra fees like phototaking or excusion fees etc. Boring stuff but remember to look look see see ok. I feel like a villian in the making saying all this aloud. But it is the reality of childcare and it's not just sg. The grass is never greener so we do our best to water our gardens and pick the weeds. But if ur hands are tied and u have to put ur kid in school early or the closest to ur home or work, pray and hope it'll be in ur favour. Something will work out 😃