Finding the best student care centre is a challenge for many working parents. Sometimes, the student centre close to home is ideal, yet it is more convenient for some parents to use the one closest to their workplace. Some parents face an internal struggle between paying for student care services over alternatives, like child care centres, tuition centres, hiring domestic help, or asking family members to help watch the kids in their absence.
Predictable Schedule
Student care in Singapore usually has a fairly predictable program, and often, are willing to bend the rules to accommodate parents when they arrive later or need additional student care services during the weekend or holidays.
The same cannot be said of alternative care options. Grandparents may have alternative plans or they may be unwell. Often, parents don’t get the information too late, so they can’t make alternative arrangements in time, and this affects their performance at work.
Complementary Transportation Services
Most student care centres provide transportation for kids, from the school to the student care centres. This solves the logistical challenges, especially for parents who may not have the time or resources to handle this movement in the middle of a work day. The complementary transportation also makes it easier for parents to choose the best student care centre in Singapore without being restricted by location.
Structured Learning
Student care centre in Singapore offer structured learning opportunities for kids, something that the other alternatives don’t offer. When the kids go to student care centre, they get homework support from the teachers.
Community-based student learning centres also have programs, such as enrichment classes. The classes also follow the regular school curriculum closely, so students get targeted assistance based on their needs.
Group Learning
Student care centre offer a unique opportunity for students to learn with their peers from different schools. They learn in a group setting, and this can be helpful to students as they share ideas and learn from one another. This setup also encourages healthy competition for academic growth.
Holistic Development
Unlike tuition centres which focus solely on academics, student care centres have a comprehensive approach to a child’s development. They offer homework support, academic programs, and enrichment classes, including arts, crafts, sports, and music. The strategy is to help boost a child’s academic performance while helping the child develop important life skills and interests.
It is important to point out that the student care centres create their programs as they deem fit, so you’ll discover student care centres offering the bare minimum while others have many programs. Parents have to research the student care services offered by the different centres to determine if they align with their interests and budget.
Safe Environment
Student care centres know they are liable if anything happens to a child under their care, so they have set up safety mechanisms to ensure the children are safe and protected at all times. The staff are trained and they supervise the kids at all times, whether they are playing or reading. This gives parents peace of mind knowing that their kids are safe at the student care centre.
Student care centres offer comprehensive services that the alternatives don’t. Parents who can afford to pay for the service would rather do it than use free alternatives, like family support. Fortunately, the Singapore government under the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) program offers subsidies to eligible families to reduce the cost burden for parents who prefer student care services but can’t afford them.