Childcare centre

Lately I am busy looking at child care center for Adelle to attend in 2010. Initially i thought of putting her at Kids Colorbox Montessori Center(across the street from my parents place) for 2 hrs lesson. But after the saga with my mum and maid, i decided to go for a childcare center instead for contingency plan.

I spent abt 1-2 weeks to search the web for childcare center nearby and there are few relatively near to my house and my parents house. I also went for site visits and spoke to the principals. Sounds like i am looking for a primary school hor? :P

My site visit feedback :

1. PCF Moulmein-Tai Pei ChildCare Centre Just 2 blks away from my parents house and it's a void deck childcare center with non-aircon environment. Look reasonably spacious and clean by peeping through the window. I only spoke to the principal outside the gate and did not get to go in to take a look cos the principal say cannot. Generally the programme, curriculum and menu looks good. Price is super affordable too cos only need to pay $199 after govt subsidy for a full day childcare rates. However, there is no more vacancy until july 2010.

2. YWCA McNair It is a landed property along McNair Road and two storey house with it's own playground. Initially i was very excited becos I like childcare center in a landed house environment (like Pat schoolhouse). Until we stepped inside the building, hubby say it was very messy and stuffs are piled up everywhere. It was very old and kind of run-down. Thus, we didn't go for the open house and decided to drop this as one of the choices. Though the price is also quite affordable ie $299 after govt subsidy.

3. Cherie Hearts Little Angels This center is located along macpherson road. It was a landed property and has it's own playground, simple running tracks and sand pit too. Very well equipped as a center cos they have computer for teaching and very clean and neat place. I was impressed with the principal cos she took my temperature and made me sanitized my hand before going in. I went during the children nap time and they are sleeping soundly. The teacher look nice and committed. I was told that they provide salmon for the children lunch which sounds good! The only thing i dislike is the curriculum cos the principal told me that they don't teach phonics for playgroup as they felt they are too young to learn which i disagree totally. Cos Adelle has been attending zoophonics and has mastered quite a lot of alphabets phonics so far. So i don't think the principal statement is right as other CC are also teaching phonics to playgroup age. Anyway the price is $432 after the special discount and govt subsidy.

4. Creative Star KidsCampus This is another void deck child care center along Bendemeer Road which charges $360 after govt subsidy. Well, relatively high price for non-aircon environment as it is a private CC. I brought Adelle there during their lesson time and it was a small area for the children to sing and dance. Their outdoor activties is to walk along the void deck with 1 teacher holding 2 kids hand and the kids will hold another more few kids hand. Sounds a bit bo-liao rite? I also heard from forum that high turnover rate of teachers and mossies bites are common. So i decided not to go ahead.

5. Agape Little Uni
This CC is super near to my house. It's located at the multi-storey carpark (level 2) of my house. Read from forum feedback that a lot of Creative star kids left and went to Agape instead. So i went to check out the place last weekend and brought Adelle there too. We were impressed with the cleanliness and super spacious area for playgroup kids. They have toys that are maintained in excellent condition. The curriculum looks interesting as they have gym play on every tuesday and they are using Letterland to teach phonics. I also get to know from one existing mummy that it is a christian CC and i also see bible verses on the CC wall. Overall we kind of like the CC and will put Adelle there! But I need to change Danelle CDA from standard chartered to OCBC bank cos using OCBC CDA has $100 discount for the monthly fees, waiver of registration fees($100) and $50 discount off the products. So quite a bit savings cos the fees comes out to be $500 after govt subsidy and discount for a air-con CC. Hope Adelle will learn to be independent and have a fun time there! :)

While searching for a childcare center, i found out that OCBC CDA offers a lot of discounts and priviledges for quite a lot of childcare center like Agape Little Uni, Cherie Hearts, Little Skool House, etc and also can get discount for places like Go-Go Bambini, The Polliwogs, Peek-A-Boo, etc. So to my dear preggy friends, do consider OCBC CDA when you can't decide which bank to sign up.. I didn't do a thorough research when i chose for Danelle CDA previously and now need to write in to MCYS to ask for transfer of bank a/c. Waste of time! :P