Hi Chalis,
I send my girl in Feb 2011 when she was 19 months for the PN Class. This year she's at N1.
I chose Brighton Montessori @Fort Road cos it's near my place, it has a good reputation and it is 15 years in operation. I was happy to hear that it had undergone renovation to improve the environment so I did not mind the price increase in May 2011.
In 2011, there is a change in the company in terms of name and consolidation of operation, although there is no change in the management. But the school principal left in Dec 2011, so do all the teachers in my girl's class. She used to come back home to rave how she loved her teachers. Now, she did not say anything positive of her new teachers except who and what did the new teachers scold her or her classmates.
In 2012, the school sub-contract a third party to collect fees. In April 2012, there is going to be another round of fee increment, So the monthly school fees for N1(half daily) is going to be S$ 1,190 before GST or any applicable subsidy. There is no mention of improvement in curriculum or whatsoever. I cannot imagine how the K1 & K2 fees are going to be like.
Now I'm wondering is this school really worth the money?? It seems all the fees are going to its operation. I'm a firm believer of the Montessori structure and program of teaching how the children learn, but I don't think the new fees for this school justify for it. Furthermore, it is not holistic as it does not emphasis on the arts and creativity part. Neither the children can speak very well.
What is positive about Brighton Montessori is that through its experience, it has garnered a system to prepare well the child for mainstream school later. Also the school has interesting outdoor activities such as field visits, theatres etc. So the child is exposed and has breathing space outside the classroom.
At the end of the day, you'll have to find what suits you and your child. If I choose to stay at BM, i will still have to fork out more monies for enrichment classes to let her explore her creativity side. For me, I'm pulling my girl out next year to NAFA for her N2 & kindergarten which provides exposure for arts & crafts, music and movement. The extra monies that I can save from the fees can go to Montessori enrichment class instead.
