PIPS or Greenfield Playgroup??

[OlympicMummy]

Which is better in terms of teaching structure and environment? I know it's just playgroup but I want something that will make my daughter's and my time worthwhile. Travel time to both from my place is about even.

All inputs welcome. (I need to decide whether to accept PIPS within the week)

TIA.
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[elle]

Which PIPS? If the Kowloon branch, I just had a colleage pull her child out of classes there as she thought they were much too expensive for what was offered and the teachers spoke poor English. Have heard much better things about the Parkview location for PIPS.

 

[OlympicMummy]

Hi elle, sorry for not being clear. I am talking about PIPS Kowloon and Greenfield Long Beach. Thanks for your post.

 

[cookiemonster9]

OlympicMummy, my son goes to PIPS Kowloon playgroup and he really enjoys his classes. I'm not really sure who elle was referring to with regards to teachers speaking poor English as both playgroup teachers are English...

Don't know anything about Greenfield.

 

[Gemma]

I've just withdrawn my toddler from the pips play group. I did not feel it was worth the amount of money they charged. I can only compare them to tutor time as he also attends TT, which in my opinion is more organized and structured, if that is what you are after. Both teachers at pips are native English speaking. I think a lot of it depends on the teacher. You cannot change teachers if you are unhappy with them. I don't know anything about greenfield.

 

[Zergmei]

I am very happy with Tutortime. My child has tried Anfield but was very disappointed. I have also heard many negative comments about PIPS and greenfield.

 

[wishkiez]

I am very happy with Tutortime. My child has tried Anfield but was very disappointed. I have also heard many negative comments about PIPS and greenfield.

Hi Zergmei

Am about to enrol my son at Greenfield (the new Hang Hau campus). Could you be specific about the negative comments you have heard about Greenfield please? My options are Sunshine House (Clear Water Bay), Boxhill (TKO) and Greenfield. We want to prep my son for wider options for Primary in case he doesn't get into any of the Inter and ESF. The most important factor would be htat he enjoys his time at school though, even if it means he has little choice at P1 level.

 

[fafreak]

I heard the Greenfield in Long Beach had a bit more of a "local" feel with fewer expats, etc than some of the more int'l schools like PIPS. I don't think that necessarily means anything about the quality of the playgroup but it might be something you consider to be important.

 

[carang]

but if you are thinking your child will go to a local primary school, attending an international kindergarten is not a good idea! your child will be way behind in chinese listening/understanding/speaking/reading/writing....

just because you speak english at home doesn't mean your child won't enjoy a local kindergarten. while it isn't all playtime and snacks, both of my kids have thoroughly enjoyed their time at a local kindergarten learning chinese. (and now attending a local primary school--my son, daughter still has 1 year of kindergarten)

 

[wishkiez]

thanks fatfreak and carang for your comments

We're not bothered with 'local' feel. We live in HK, and we want to embrace that. We're quite likely to be here for the long term, so we feel we should give the opportunity to our son to really immerse in the culture here. If everything goes well at local school option, the only downside we can think of is that it'll be harder to be accepted at ESF. But the fear of not being accepted at ESF whilst my son does not learn any Chinese overtakes all other concerns... Think of the stress caused of having to go to a local school when unable to understand the language you're being taught in. I've been there myself (My family moved to the UK from Japan and my brothers and I went to the local school with almost no understanding of English, aged 12, 10 and 4). The outcome is really child dependent, and unreliable. Not recommended.

What's important for us is that our son enjoys the experiences at the school - whether it be the learning process, play, etc. He's joining PN from Sept 2012, and we figured we have one year to see how he's doing. We will be applying to all the other options, such as ESF, Delia, VSA and KCIS this year when the application opens.

During my recent visit to Greenfield (new Hang Hau campus which opened in April 2012), I had complete attention of a teaching staff (as opposed to a school supervisor) who took time to ensure all my answers were met, talked at length about approach to discipline and how learning through play was an important part of child's growth, went over some teaching materials and shown some work sheets, activities pupils would do (including cooking like kneading), how I could read between the lines that my child would not be pressurised to achieve a skill he is not yet ready for, but be positively encouraged to learn over time. The teachers were native to the language they are in charge of, which could not be said for some other schools I have seen. In the end, I felt comfortable that my child would be taken care of, and the teachers and staff actually cared. So I'm pretty much sold on the idea, but feel nervous because I am not able to find any endorsements for the school, or find other parents who has had the benefit of experience.

So any feedback - whether on Greenfield, or other local, or other options I have, will be most gratefully received.