I have finally decided on the preschool for Elroy and have registered and secured a place for him already. Yes, he is only 9 months old but being a typical kiasu Singaporean, i decided to do the registration ASAP so i won't have to be placed on Waiting List. Due to privacy, i am not going to reveal the school i chose but it is one of the schools listed in this post.
I had a hard time narrowing down the preschools to visit and had to do some research on the many schools friends and readers suggested. I think my list had like 30 schools in total! Feel that most mummies might also have a hard time so here is my narrowed down list of the preschools worth considering. I visited 7 preschools in total on one week i was surprisingly really free. 4 of them in this list (EtonHouse, Brighton, Pat's, Mindchamps), and another 3 others i visited which i didn't like therefore won't be sharing.
When choosing the school, it is best you make an appointment beforehand so you can do a school tour and know more about the schools.
Decide what kind of curriculum you think is better for your child. Different preschools offer different curriculums, read up on it and decide what you feel is the best (
here).
International Baccalaureate/Primary Years Program – Featuring six transdisciplinary themes to encourage confidence and identity, the IB PYP programs adds an additional dimension to traditional curriculum.
Play-based learning. Although most preschools offer a version of play-based learning, here are a few of our picks.
Mandarin Language Immersion
Montessori – A school of thought that recognizes the uniqueness of the child, rewarding their individuality in learning. You can find Montessori-based schools throughout Singapore. Just to name a few specialty picks around town:
Waldorf Steiner
Reggio Emilia – A philosophy of self guided curriculum where children learn in a supportive environment that enhances exploration and discovery.
I also considered the child to teacher ratio – how many kids to 1 teacher. Because my son will only be 19 months old when he enters school, i did not want a too "crowded" classroom and preferred schools which have like a 1:7 ratio so my child gets more attention. A friend of mine told me the school she sent her child to has a ration of like 1:10? Don't know how the teachers can manage! Also, it is best to choose one which is nearest to your place, but even if it isn't, most preschools will recommend you an external school bus service to pick your child from home to school and back. And of course, last but not least, the cost of the school fees. Most of the schools in this list cost around $1300-$2000/month for full day pre-nursery (after deduction of working mom subsidy). Most parents usually put their child half day though so price is lower. For me, i enrolled my son for Full Day course but am going for "Flexi-Hours", as the school i chose doesn't offer "Flexi-Hours". Was told it isn't "good" to do Full Day when he is so young so i think i'll alternate it...like some days full day, some days i'll pick him up half-day.
Here is the list of the preschools i considered enrolling Elroy to and have visited and liked it...
Chiltern House
Chiltern House Enrolment
Address : 902 East Coast Parkway
Block C #01-09/10
Playground@Big Splash
Singapore 449874
Tel : (+65) 6346 6130
Chiltern House East Coast
Address : 902 East Coast Parkway
Block C, #02-17/18
Playground @ Big Splash
Singapore 449874
Tel : (+65) 6345 9912
Chiltern House Forum
Address : #04-01 Forum
583 Orchard Road
Singapore 238884
Tel : (+65) 6737 1966
Chiltern House Thomson
Address : 510 Thomson Road, #04-01A
SLF Building Singapore 298135
Tel : (+65) 6299 5161
They have a more centres, you can find the full list on their website.
Cherie Hearts
Cherie Hearts @ Upper Thomson (NEW!)
6 Tagore Drive
Tagore Building #B1-05/06, Singapore 787623
Email: ong.yen.lyn@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6456 3802
Cherie Hearts Little Play House (Tai Seng)
30 Tai Seng Street
BreadTalk IHQ #02-12/13, Singapore 534013
Email: andy.ng@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6288 8261
Cherie Hearts Holdings @ Kim Keat
60 Kim Keat Rd, Kim Keat House
#01-01/03, Singapore 328827
Email: kimkeat@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6252 6228
Cherie Hearts Holdings @ Tampines St 42
Blk 460 Tampines St 42
#01-312, Singapore 520460
Email: tampines42@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6788 0603
Cherie Hearts @ Gombak (Upper Bukit Timah)
Blk 307 Gombak Recreation Centre
Bukit Panjang Camp, Bukit Panjang Loop, Singapore 669638
Email: gombak@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6768 3259
Cherie Hearts Holdings @ Jurong East
Blk 248 Jurong East St 24
#01-72, Singapore 600248
Email: jurongeast@cheriehearts.com.sg
Phone: 6560 8786
They have a more centres, you can find the full list on their website.
Pat's Schoolhouse
Pat's Schoolhouse Claymore
11 Claymore Road, Singapore 229541
Hotline: +65 6781 2288
Pat's Schoolhouse Raffles
11 Beach Road #03-01 Singapore 189675
Hotline: +65 6781 2288
Pat's Schoolhouse GrassRoots
190 Ang Mo Kio, Ave 8, #01-04 The Grassroots' Club, Singapore 568046
Hotline: +65 6781 2288+65 6781 2288
Pat's Schoolhouse Kovan
755 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 534625
Hotline: 6781 2288
Pat's Schoolhouse Lakeside
5 Kang Ching Road, Singapore 619061
Hotline: +65 6781 2288
They have a more centres, you can find the full list on their website.
LEAP Schoolhouse
LEAP Schoolhouse City Square
180 Kitchener Road
#09-09/10, City Square Mall
Singapore 208539
BRN: 200913496R
Tel: 6634 0828
LEAP Schoolhouse Pasir Ris
443 Pasir Ris Drive 6
#03-02
Singapore 510443
We are located above the Pasir Ris HDB branch office,
and we are right beside Nissi childcare centre.
Tel: 6581 2271 / 9230 5117
LEAP Schoolhouse
5 Jalan Lana
Singapore 419037
Tel: 6449 0306 / 6246 3695
Mindchamps
MindChamps PreSchool @ Yio Chu Kang
202 Ang Mo Kio Ave 9, #01-204
Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex
Singapore 569771 (Yio Chu Kang MRT)
Tel: +65 6481 6626 / +65 8492 7888
MindChamps PreSchool @ Woodlands
11 Woodlands Close, #01-38/39 Woodlands 11
Singapore 737853 (near Admiralty MRT)
Tel: +65 6339 3296
MindChamps PreSchool @ Toa Payoh
#05-12 HDB Hub Biz 3, Lift Lobby 2,
490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh,
Singapore 310490 (Toa Payoh MRT)
Tel: +65 6828 2648
MindChamps PreSchool @ Bishan
Midview City, 18 Sin Ming Lane, #01-18
Singapore 573960 (near Marymount & Bishan MRT)
Tel: +65 6734 8400
MindChamps PreSchool @ 143 East Coast Road
143 East Coast Road,
Singapore 428833 (Opp. 112 Katong)
Tel: +65 9681 4481 / +65 6440 0859
MindChamps PreSchool @ Bedok
750C Chai Chee Rd,
#01-01 Technopark @ Chai Chee (near Bedok MRT)
Tel: +65 9833 4567
They have a more centres, you can find the full list on their website.
EtonHouse
EtonHouse Newton
Address: 39 Newton Road Singapore 307966
Tel: 6352 3322
EtonHouse Bilingual Bukit Timah
215 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588 184
Email 215BT@etonhouse.edu.sg
EtonHouse Mountbatten 223
Address: 223 Mountbatten Road , #01-18 , Singapore 398008
Tel: (65) 6440 5100
Brighton Montessori
Brighton Montessori Fort Road
16 Fort Road
Singapore 439077
Brighton Montessori Frankel Avenue
125 Frankel Avenue
Singapore 458235
Brighton Montessori River Valley
370 River Valley Road
Singapore 248279
Brighton Montessori Sunset Way
41 Sunset Way, #02-01/02 Clementi Arcade
Singapore 597071
Brighton Montessori The Grassroots' Club *New*
190 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, #02-01 The Grassroots Club
Singapore 568046
You can contact us at our hotline +65 6588 3883 to find out more.
Hopefully this list would be helpful in helping you find the best preschool for your child!
