Centurion Creches - needed urgently

I understand the "colds and flu" is a must for preschool kids but this was major diarrehia n puking. It lasted a while. She had sore throat and ended up spending more time @ the docs than normal. So I removed her.
That was just my personal experience, however I do see some happy kids there.

I did look @ stepping stones montessori , classes end @ 12am.
I will also call hidden gems , thanks for the info really appreciate it.

Hi Haley142,

You can try www.hiddengemsmontessori.co.za/

Not sure if there is a waiting list.

With regards to the "getting sick". I don't know what your experience was but my LG was sick last year almost every 6 - 8 weeks with a cold. I took her off dairy from the start of this year and she only got sick for the first time this year now.

If the school have a strict policy with regards to sick children not being allowed back at school it can help but the fact is still that it is very common for 2 - 5 year olds to get regular colds in a school environment. It is said that 12 colds per year are seen as normal. (I know, this is crazy, but true!)

wow, logged on after a year and surprised i even remembered my password
i am also looking for a good nursery school in weirda park and have experienced the same problems of overcrowding.

i really like Montessori in Escourt RD, however the waiting list in @yrs. cost is about R3000.

Little haffalump did not work for me, tried it a year or so and my lg got really sick.

Hi Anthea!

Yes, you are so right. However some of the places had a bad child/teacher ratio and was still not that much cheaper than the better schools.

We almost bought a stand in midstream, seemed like a really nice estate!
I am glad you could find a school that looks good. My LG was also at home untill almost 2,5 years.

She is now at a Montesorri school in eldoraigne. Last years fees was really great because the women allowed parttime enrolments, therefore only pay if she comes to school. However this year she must be enrolled fulltime and we are paying R2050 (over 10 months) halfday, included music lesson, cooking lessons and playball. However they close with private school holidays....with no holiday care. The ratio for 2 - 3 year olds = 6:1 and 3 - 6 year olds 15:1.

The main problem apart from the bad ratios from other schools was that I was not happy with the discipline strategy followed at most schools. Most schools follow a "authorative style" and believe that they can treat children a certain way because "they are the adults and the children are small". In the montesorri approach they firmly believe in the teacher setting the example of respectful behaviour, therefore no children being pulled and dangled by the arm or screaming at children. Teachers need to model the behaviour expected of the children. That does not mean they don't enforce boundaries, however they don't use humilating tactics like the naughty corner or screaming at children.

I didn't do my research before I enrolled my child in her first school and realised that you can't just trust that a school will be following the same discipline strategies as you do at home. I regretted not asking more questions before deciding on a school, I was a bit naive thinking that all chreches and schools actually like children or are really passionate about teaching small children. Not true.

Gloeiwurmpie - unfortunately that the truth hey In order to get the numbers in the classes down you have to be prepared to pay...

We are in the Midstream area and have opted for Midlands Pre-Primary... She will be starting on the 16th - her first time in a school (she is 2 and a half and has been at home with a nanny all the time).... The fees are comparable to the Optibabies and Montesorri's....

What school did you decide on for your little one Gloeiwurmpie?

Hi Desireesam,

I embarked on a mission to find a good pre-school in Eldoraigne/Wierda park area about a year ago since I was unhappy with the one which my LG was attenting at the time.

I have generally high standards in life therefore I was sorely dissapointed in most of the schools I attented, except the ones that were more expensive!! I was not happy with the child/teacher ratio which was in most cases 23 - 30 children (aged 2 -3 years) per qualified teacher (plus one assistant not qualified, basically can keep the children alive!). I find that ratio is too high. Children are then basically just kept alive, and you can't really teach or impart skills on such a big group in my opinion.
I was also schocked by the extreme small classrooms in most places. The children looked like a bunch of sardines in a small tin!

I was impressed by OPtibaby in eldoraigne, however they were the most expensive of all the places i visited. I also thought Bundibos was acceptable but they are fully booked for like the next 3 years! I was number 101 on the waiting list!!

My neighbour was very happy with "Little village christian nurser school" if the religious approach is not a problem for you. She had all 3 her kids there and was really happy. They have been open for quite a number of years. Here is there website www.lvcnschool.co.za/gallery

I got this list of schools in the area. I would suggest you phone a couple of them first and ask about things that are important to you before you visit. I really wasted my time driving to a lot of them! Have a list of questions ready that are important to you, like discipline strategies, child/teacher ratio, school ciriculum etc.

Good luck with your search it is not an easy one!

Hi there

There are plenty of creches around that area that are all good - are you looking at an English one?

Little Heffalumps in Rooihuiskraal is really good i have heard, as is Beautiful Minds in Ruimte in Eldoraigne...

Let me know if you come right?