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June15
PRESCHOOLS
CHECKLIST
Here are a few things to take into account when
choosing a preschool:
✓
Check the location of the campus, convenience
to home and transport options.
✓
Ensure the curriculum fits your child’s education
needs and your future plans; the right fit may
minimise the disruption of moving to another
country and changing schools.
✓
Class sizes and teacher-to-child ratios vary from
preschool to preschool.
✓
Mandarin is widely taught as a second language.
✓
Extracurricular activities can provide a balance
to the academic experience.
✓
Most international preschools come with a
higher price tag than expats may be accustomed
to in their home countries.
✓
School holidays and term dates vary from
preschool to preschool.
✓
Depending on the age of the child, schools
often encourage parent participation; if work
commitments allow, this can be a wonderful way
to meet new people and get to know the school.
✓
Because of the tropical climate, outdoor
experiences feature in most preschools; check
the facilities available.
✓
Most schools are flexible regarding the number
of days per week that a child attends, depending
on age.
✓
Find out about the preschool’s daily and weekly
programmes, and the activities the children will
be engaged in.
NEED TO KNOW
LEARNINGCENTRES
Singapore is awash with learning centres, also known
as enrichment centres or educational play centres. Babies and children can
get involved in music, Mandarin, arts and crafts, maths, dance, drama, gym
classes and more.
PRESCHOOLS
Before beginning statutory education at age six in Singapore,
many children attend preschool from the age of 18 months upwards. In Britain,
a preschool is known as a nursery school or a playgroup, while in the US the
terms preschool and pre-K are used.
KINDERGARTENS
In Singapore, many international schools use the term
kindergarten to describe the first, and sometimes the second, year of primary
school education. However, the Singapore Ministry of Education uses the
term kindergarten to mean a preschool that provides a structured three-year
preschool programme for children aged four to six. Children do activities that
develop language and literacy skills, basic number concepts, social skills,
creative and problem solving skills, appreciation of music and movement,
outdoor play, English as a first language and Chinese, Malay or Tamil.
F
or many of us, selecting
the right school for our
children is, after choosing
where to live, the most
impor tant decision we
have to make when moving to a new
country. Fortunately, there are dozens of
preschool options in Singapore, offering
a wide range of learning experiences,
opportunities and facilities.
A visit to a school is often the best
way to make an instinctive decision
based on the individual needs of your
children, but hearing the opinions of
other families about their experiences
can be invaluable. The following pages
feature referrals from 32
Expat Living
readers to help you in the decision-
making process.