Parent at SHAWS Preschool
Tell us about the children you have attending the school?
We have Leo (2.5 years old) attending the campus at Boscombe Rd and Lucia (4.5 years old) who attended the same place before moving to UWC. And we have another one on the way who will be enrolled in 2016!
What were the most important factors for you in selecting a school?
We wanted somewhere that was close to home, that had a large, open outdoor play area, good class sizes, lots of creative play and teachers who loved the kids. Shaws was recommended to us and we are very happy with it.
How has the school lived up to your expectations?
It’s excellent. Both Lucia and now Leo love going to school. Leo runs up and hugs his teachers every time he gets to school. The key for us is happy kids and Shaws is great for that. We’re also very impressed with the amount of Chinese that’s taught from PN onwards, Leo was able to count in Mandarin shortly after he could in English!
What does your child/children like most about attending this school?
The kids really love the teachers. The teachers really love the kids. Always big hugs and so much warmth. And Leo loves the food – he never eats as well as he does at Shaws. And even though Lucia is at UWC now, she is still very close with her friends from Shaws, we see them almost weekly.
What sort of curriculum does this school offer?
Creative learning in both English and Chinese. I remember when Lucia was 2 and we were supermarket shopping and she got really excited because we were buying a pineapple. She was learning about pineapples in school that week. Good active learning and play.
How much homework is expected of your children?
There are some home projects but not too many. I don’t think kids that young should be doing homework anyway so the level is right.
Does your child participate in any extra-curricular activities at the school?
They are both regulars at Shaws Sports. You can attend even if you don’t go to Shaws and it teaches two sports per week. We can see lucia and Leo becoming good and they really enjoy it. The Shaws teachers say you can tell who does Shaws Sports at weekends.
Are you satisfied with the level of communication you receive from the school and how they engage parents?
We are, yes. There is a portal that we use where we can see what is being taught and what outings are on. If you don’t visit the portal you can miss things. The teachers are conscious of how much we all have going on and will either send the occasional Whatsapp or physically remind us of things!
What do you value most about the school?
The quality of the teachers, the openness of the campus, the attention to detail and individuality, and specifically, how they love Leo. Every day he gives them a huge hug and is off playing before we have finished saying goodbye. He has grown so much in the almost two years he’s been there, both socially and intellectually.
What advice would you give other parents trying to choose a school?
We think it’s the warmest and most creative environment we’ve seen, and at this young age, that was very important to us. Figure out what’s most important to you, go in and see it, speak to the teachers and then speak to a few parents.
