Hi Sleepingdeer,
hm, whether a curriculum is strong is subjective. The first impression usually counts, and besides looking at the programme, there would be other details like surrounding, schools' beliefs, kids handling, teachers/communication, transport, food to take into consideration. For older kids, I feel, some of these take a second priority as compared to a younger kid. For eg, most PCF around my area do not teach phonics at 4 yr old. I just hear they still do not teach at 5 yr old, n a mother is fine that her kid can't read much. Perhaps there are other areas that she has a higher priority, like convenience. But they are still preparing the kids for Pri 1. Some kindies are stronger in chinese, for eg, more time is set aside for chinese. Some have a set of targets and goals at each year. You can ask to see the goals/targets/worksheets/progress reports and see what they teach on. But, you are probably not going to see much at Pre-N. Thinking ahead, if you wish, do consider if the school teaches Hanyu Pinyin. Preschools are not supposed to teach but some are doing it. Ask about their outings, even time spend on concerts, some really spend a lot of time on it. Maris Stella for eg did not have a concert but have a sports day. At a younger age, I tend to ask to observe how a teacher conduct a class. For eg, I was in a very nicely done Montessori place 2 years ago. Very well equipped, and clean, with a good number of teachers. I asked to sit in and I realize that the teachers are not qualified to teach. I saw my neighbour's kid who was bored there and throwing a paper plate around; I told her after that but she's ok with that.
Generally, hence, it depends on your feel, and even so, you won't know till your kid is in the school and slowly you know more. And do note, schools change too ... what you see and like now may change. Try to drill the principal and supervisor and ask for their philiosophy as well as ask to talk to the teachers. You can ask what the kids would learn at 4,5,6 yrs old, and lead off from there for more qns. Ask for the phonics program they use, and ask them detailed questions like how do you teach the kids sound and to see the schedule. My son used to be in a cc that uses Letterland, and I was blur to all these. I went for an OpenHouse once and I saw how everything is for show only. She held my boy's hand to colour items that begin with a certain sound; I asked him afterward does he know what the sound was and he doesn't, and I had already knew that his phonics was quite weak as he was not learning. The teacher didn't know and still said he's coping well. A good teacher matters a lot, to me. My son's teacher last yr made a detailed list of each kids' knowledge of phonics, she can even show me and I could see her passion for it.
Well, I don't have a lot of experience with preschools, but just that I asked a lot of stupid questions along the way and visit a lot (even those that I shouldn't bother or just look see look see), and I've always follow-up with the schools on his progress. In both cases, there are people movement and hence the way the schools are runned has changed, and in each of the cases, the curriculum has changed against what is impressed upon me in the first place. Hence, for me now, at a older age, I do place curriculum above the other areas.
And btw, you sort of know the school is for you, because you don't question abt the nitty gritty things that you are unhappy abt, you just say, yes, that looks like a nice school to me.
.ky.
when i went back to visit Arise, there was actually an aunty cleaning the floor and floor mats after the morning session PN kids have gone home. the PIC told me that they do this everyday before the afternoon session PN kids arrive. also the teachers are in the toilet to make sure the kids wash their hands properly. so i guess they practice fairly good hygiene in school.
