esf kindergarten

worc1361

We are relocating to HK in a few months time and have not decided on where to live yet.

Does anyone know the differences between these ESF kindergarten? Wu Kai Sha vs Tsing Yi vs Tung Chung?

All the campuses similar? What about staff and children?

We need to apply soon and I will not be in HK to check out the campuses before applying, hence appreciate help from local mummies!

phoebechong1111

Welcome to HK! I think it depends on where will u live in HK. U should choose the nearest one for you. I think they have no big difference among them.

worc1361

We haven't decided where to live yet hence checking out which campuses is the best!

MrsGM

My son is in WKS. He's having a good time there. It is inside a large complex called Lake Silver.

Tung Chung is a brand new kindergarten so no one knows much about it. I think
It opens in 2015... Correct me if I'm wrong.

gatochat

I know Tsing Yi one is open plan, where as Wu Kai Sha has classrooms with some communal areas.  Personally, I prefer open plan, as it feels more warm and welcoming.

Teaching style-wise, I have no idea.

worc1361

I notice website says there is no outdoor space at tsing yi. Does it make a difference or tsing yi is a nice campus too?

FattyDaddy

If you have not decided where to live in HK and if you intend to have your child continue with ESF primary schools after finishing ESF kindergarten, I suggest you reside on HK island and consider ESF Hillside.

In Kowloon and NT there are 3 ESF kindergartens feeding to 4 ESF primary schools, whereas on HK island there is 1 ESF kindergarten feeding to 5 ESF primary schools ... you work out the maths :)

worc1361

Good advice. Although I don't know where to live but husband will get a job in china so prefer to be in Kowloon or NT!

Birkin

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 14-09-02 發表
If you have not decided where to live in HK and if you intend to have your child continue with ESF p ...

That is very true but the difficult part is to get into ESF Hillside in the first place - as there is only 1 ESF kindergarten serving the entire HK island, you can imagine how keen the competition is...
If you wouldn't mind moving again in 2 years' time, it may be easier to get your child into one of the four ESF kindergartens in Kowloon/NT and then move over to the HK side before primary admission to maximise your chances of getting your child into ESF kindy and primary...

FattyDaddy

Birkin 發表於 14-9-2 11:18
That is very true but the difficult part is to get into ESF Hillside in the first place - as there is only 1 ESF kindergarten serving the entire HK island ...

True too, there is no free lunch in this world, it is like shifting the difficulty forwards.

Moving house is another way, but the move must be made by the beginning of K2 because that is the time when primary applications start, so the child will be commuting to school for the entire K2 year, without school bus service too. Not insurmountable, but something that needs to be taken into consideration.

gatochat

回覆 worc1361 的帖子

I remember seeing an outdoor area with bikes at TY, but do not recall there's outdoor space at WKS.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.....

sschiu

All of the ESF kindergartens are authorised IB schools (except the newest Tung Chung one) so all curriculum should be similar. However you haven't mentioned Abacus which has a bilingual stream to choose. This one is in Clearwater Bay and it is closest to ESF's Clearwater Bay School. For Tung Chung, the site is not renovated yet so nobody knows how the space looks like. For TY and WKS both are spacious but TY has an outdoor play area. WKS has a covered balcony space and it has recently been converted into a planting area. Children learn how to grow vegie and how to "cook" them in the kitchen!

worc1361

Thanks. We are likely to choose TY as in laws are in Mei foo so probably stay somewhere near there.

However I heard TY is pretty difficult to get in! Wish me luck!

pppwong

Is TY or WKS easier to get in?

FattyDaddy

pppwong 發表於 14-9-4 21:35
Is TY or WKS easier to get in?

Theoretically, Tsing Yi should be easier this year because there is a new ESF kindergarten opening in Tung Chung which should offload some demand on Tsing Yi. From my personal observation, around 15% to 20% of Tsing Yi pupils were from Lantau Island and obviously the Lantau applicants will now apply to the new kindergarten in Tung Chung instead.

pppwong

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 14-09-04 發表
Theoretically, Tsing Yi should be easier this year because there is a new ESF kindergarten opening i ...

Thanks. I'm also thinking if I should apply to the tung chung one for the biggest chance... Anyway, not sure how useful the kindergarten 'priority' will turn out to be for entering its primary schools, so a lot of guesswork and risk taking indeed.

I have heard hear-says that quite a number of kids without any foreign passports do not get a chance for interview for its kindergarten at all. Any thoughts on how true this is?   Thanks for your insights!

FattyDaddy

pppwong 發表於 14-9-7 18:43
Thanks. I'm also thinking if I should apply to the tung chung one for the biggest chance... Anyway,  ...

The Tung Chung kindergarten is completely new so it is an unknown. As for the kindergarten priority, although it is lowest on the list of priorities, it is still better than no priority.

Personally I think it is true that having foreign passport does help, but you should not be deterred from applying even if you don't have it because it is only one of many factors affecting the final outcome, the most you have to lose is the application fee and a little bit of time so why not?

AJW2010

ESF centre said 99.4% of hillside kindergarten kids last year got interview to esf primary school.  This may give you some ideas about the prioroty.

Corarale

very good insight here. can i ask what esf will ask for when they look for address proof? credit card statement or utility bill?

i'm thinking whether to apply for Tsing Yi or Tung Chung ? i think TY will be easier than before as some of the applicants will be now going to TC. However, there are more westerners in both DB and TC so Chinese even with foreign passport maybe at disadvantage. Am i thinking correctly?