While searching for a kindergarten for our 4 year old son this year, we decided to look at Kinderland Sri Hartamas at 18-1 Jalan 27/70A Desa Sri Hartamas 50480 Kuala Lumpur. The place is easy enough to find but it is located on the second floor of a row of shophouses with an open space parking lot nearby.
The kindergarten principal was out when we where there and the teacher that spoke to us was young lady; Teacher Maggie, we were actually more interested in looking at the Kindergarten's facilities and the programmes offered but the teacher can't seem to explain to us well enough and just pass us the fee structure. Walking about the area, I can see 2 classrooms and a lot of arts and crafts materials, musical instruments and there are some kids tricycle / flying turtle, a small slide and a small pool half filled with balls. A small tank housed a very small live turtle while the tank next to it is empty.I would say that the teachers looked kind and treated the kids well and the kids looked happy. Although I find the place a bit dark. Food is also prepared by a Cambodian helper so I am not too keen on that.
Kinderland Program's Core Curriculum is:
1) Integrated Language Arts Program
2) Math Alive Program
3) Science Discovery Program
4) Activity-based Language Studies Program
They also have a physical curriculum though how and where this is executed in Kinderland Sri Hartamas was not explained to me by teacher Maggie
Kinderland takes in children from 1 1/2 years old to 6 1/2 years old.
Fees structure for 2012 is as such:
Term fee (3 months):
RM1770 (8.30am - 12.30pm)
RM2250 (8.30am - 3.30pm with extra language class) and
RM2700 (8.30am-6.30pm with arts and craft, hip hop, mandarin & extra class)
Other fees such as registration, deposit, materials and uniforms apply too. Fees seems reasonable, curriculum looks good on paper but sadly wasn't explained to us convincingly/ effectively by the teacher and since the teacher can't do it, I just wasn't convinced that the execution will be good. So, we are not considering Kinderland for our kid's kindergarten at the moment. Oh well, the search for a good pre-school in Kuala Lumpur goes on then.
You May Also Like:
You May Also Like:
 |
| Montessori Pre-schools at Mont Kiara |
Hi Nur ,I just came across your blog, its so good to go through your posts, very helpful.I am also looking around for a preschool nowadays for my daughter(2 and a half yr old). i live around jalan kuching, but havent yet finalised on anything. I did like the childrens discovery house, but seems a bit expensive, so lets see how things work. Did you decide n which one you opting for? where do you live?.. hoping to hear from you . Take care and good luck to you and kids :)
ReplyDeleteSUHA
Hi Suha,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my posts :) we are staying at Sentul East, if you have transportation and don't mind sending & fetching your daughter everyday, I would still say Mont Kiara / Sri Hartamas /TTDI as the best area for pre-schools. We are seriously considering HanaSuria Montessori at Mont Kiara as the principal looks very adept and fees very reasonable as compared to others in the same area. Other choices (but higher fees) includes Summerfields at Sri Hartamas, San Lorenzo Montessori at Publika and Lil Ones Montessori at Desa KiaraMas.
If you find any kindy that is good around this area, maybe you can share? :) It will be much less of a hassle if there's a good kindy around the area.
are you new to KL Suha? It's nice to hear from you, do keep in touch and take care!
Hey Nur,
ReplyDeletethanks a lot, i will surely check hanasuria, coz i have frankly seen all the rest around this area, but the fee that they charge is crazy. lets see, hope what we choose for our kids is the best inshaAllah. i had been to a preschool yesterday , its in plaza mont kiara called kidscool, its on the 3rd floor,the principal is really good, everything seemed okay but i havent yet decided as they charge 3200RM for 3months(1term) so the total for 4 terms comes upto Rm 13,500/year including the etc.and this is for 845am to 12:30pm, but if you want to go for 845am -2:30pm they charge Rm 3700. I think i will still do a bit more research and then opt for the best inshaAllah...are you a working mum ? and how old are your kids ?
take care
suha
Hi Suha,
ReplyDeleteI checked out kidscool website @ www.kidscoolmalaysia.com, the place looks nice and conducive and its great that they have a bulletin board on their website to communicate with parents too. I think at the moment hanasuria's the most cost effective for me (as I'm thinking of sending both my sons), the only think is I have to prepare halal lunch box from home as even though the principal said that the food is halal, they prepare the food in their own house, so, I would rather be on the safe side.
I'm not working at the moment, I might consider going back to work once the kids (3 yrs 2 mths and 22 mths) have settled with the school and my second one becomes more independent.
How about you? Are you working?
Hey Nur,
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about hanasuria as well, been calling to make an appointment but nobody answers the phone, so i think i might just drop by there one of the weekdays and have a look, and if everything seems okay i might just go ahead with the admission.
I am not working at the moment,its the same story, waiting to get my daughter settled in a proper schedule and then i can start looking out for jobs. :)
good to know you Nur, hope to meet you someday.
Good luck for everythng.
take care.
suha.
Hi Suha,
DeleteSorry, I forgot to inform you that Hanasuria is on extended Chinese New Year Holiday (2 weeks). They will open next week. They have 1 week trial class too. I'm going bk Singapore for a short while next week, most probably I will enroll my kids 2nd week Feb. If you decide to enroll your daughter there too, that will be great :) - do note about my halal food concern i mentioned at the other post yeah? - we can arrange for playdates for our kids too :) anything you can email me direct at nur.salmah@live.com.sg yeah?
Take Care Suha.
Thanks Nur,
ReplyDeleteI will surely keep that in mind..I will keep you posted about what we decide..
Take care
suha.
Dear Nur
ReplyDeleteMy name is Deepti, I have a 4y daughter named Savannah. We live in Dubai but will be moving to KL by end of March. Got the gitters about moving at the moment. I am very greatful to your blog as I was finding it hard to get reviews about pre schools over the net. I accidently stumbled upon your blog which is very detailed n informative about preschools in Solaris dutamas, Sri hartamas and Mont Kiara.
These are the areas we are considering to rent an apartment in.
I am a early years teacher and teach in a British nursery. I am aslo an artist and teach kids art. It will nice to connect with you when I get to KL.
Thank you again.
I hope u dont mind if I email you to know about pre schools and schools in KL.
Warm regards
Deepti
Hi Deepti,
DeleteThank you for reading my posts, it is quite difficult to find information about pre-schools in KL online, I find that not many of the pre-schools take advantage of the vast reach of the internet as yet. My scouting of pre-schools in the areas that you mentioned (especially Sri Hartamas) are not exhaustive though and maybe you can also try opening a thread at expatkl.com or alloexpat.com and see what other parents inputs are? As my views are solely based on my feelings and not my kid's experience in the school itself? You being an early years teacher would be a far better judge :) It will be great to keep in touch once you are in KL Deepti, I am looking forward to that and you can e-mail me anytime though excuse me if I reply a bit late.
Take Care and all the best for your relocation!
Regards,
Nur
Hi Nur
DeleteI will check on the two expat websites you metioned. I would like to know what age do kids (4yrs) begin primary school in Malaysia. As I would like my daughter to start school next year. Does the school begin with Kindergarten 1 and then 2, before the kids move to grade 1.
I am not aware of the age schhols take children in KL. As here in Dubai kids go in to a primary school setting by 3 1/2 to 4 yrs.
My husband's coming to KL on 12th, I have passed on the names of the pre schools you have listed on your blog. He'll go and check them out.
Do you if the Chempaka International school is a good school.
We had earlier considered enrolling my daugher to Garden Intl, but they are way to expensive in the long run.
I love Malay food and I followed your recipe for chap chai and chicken rice. It turned out nice. My favourite is Asam laksa in Malay cuisine.
On the pre-school front i liked summerfields and hana suria has no website , so i passed the add to my husband, may be he can go to the nursery.
I am also planning to take up a teaching job in a good nursery once I am settled.
I am quite looking forward to the move as we visit KL oncea year and like the place.
Look forward to meeting you once I am settled in Kl
Warm Regards
Deepti
Hi Deepti,
DeleteI'm kind of in the hurry at the moment, there's something urgent I have to attend to, off hand, montessori takes in children as small as 18 months while kindergarten takes in from 4 years old. While Form One (national schools) is from 6-7 years of age. Most montessori or kindy prepares your kid for national curriculum at Kindergarten 2. I have no experience as yet with International Schools, so I am unable to share with you on that front. Let me see what I can find out? I'll e-mail you tonight hopefully. HanaSuria Montessori do not have a website, there are a very small outfit run by husband and wife Mr Wong and Mdm Sharon. You have to call up and make an appointment with them to see the place. I'll get back to you yeah Deepti, sorry for the rushed reply.
Regards,
Nur