ELF Preschool

Start Duration
Organisations Interviewers Date Time End Time
ELF Preschool Cindy, Sandy 16/5/19 1310 1410 1 hr

Experience of Interviewee:
Principal, Mrs Prem has 20 years of experience, and 10 years of operations for ELF
Preschool.
She send her own kids to other preschools to learn more about what other schools are
doing to improve her own preschool.

Price Range for fees:

SGD1280 full day, SGD900 half day
Subsidies: SGD150 for half day, SGD300 for full day

General Observation:
⁃ In the very wealthy area where parents can usually afford the fees (only 1 occasion
that they can’t)
⁃ A bungalow house, where there is air conditioned

Clients of the Organisation:

⁃ Children from 18 months, up till student care (P1-P6), mostly from children P2 and
P3
⁃ PG/N - all play based
⁃ K - hosting booths, more acad based to prepare for Pri school
⁃ Bring them to have the real experience, project based, interacting with real world
⁃ Max 85 kids, right now is 51 kids.

Manpower of the Organisation:

⁃ Total of 7 teachers, 1 principal, 2 support staff
⁃ 7 teachers are trained and certified. China teachers are degree trained.
⁃ SGD2.2k each with bonuses
⁃ 1 staff only comes in when there is shortage, was a previous kindergarten teacher,
mother of 2. This is enough.
⁃ Not looking to hire new people
⁃ Parent volunteers come in for events and field trips
⁃ Student interns and come here for practiculum

Hiring Process in ELF:

⁃ China: online interview, Local: preschool network, for interviews
⁃ Criteria: A Chinese teacher for kindergarten level - well versed in curriculum and
syllabus. PG/Nursery level - more sensitive to kids sensitive needs and emotions, seeing the
teachers as a mother figure.
⁃ Must be lively, preferably young teacher because they are more energetic and play
with the children.
⁃ A teacher must be certified and trained, must have knowledge and need to do lesson
plans
⁃ If it is a teacher support, only need to take care of kids at the lesson stations. So
don’t need to have qualifications (but her preschool all are trained, even support staff)
⁃ Right attitude is the most important. Must be willing to do more than just teaching.
Teaching can take place during cleaning eating and other activities, not just official lessons.
⁃ What learning from textbooks is very different from in real life. So she is open to
students interns.

Perception of part time staff

⁃ Some are very good. They have assisted her when there are people going on leave.
The group is quite good. Very lucky that they got the right attitude.
⁃

Challenge #1 - Hiring of manpower:

⁃ “There are no boundaries in this profession”
⁃ Teachers must be willing to do more than just teaching, which a lot of students don’t
want to do.
⁃ Cannot find singaporean Chinese teachers
⁃ Many teachers in Preschool sector don’t want to continue, will rather go to primary
school
⁃ China Chinese teachers now have to be degree holders, some of her staff had to go
back to China to get a degree before coming back to work

Challenge #2 - Maintaining Manpower:

⁃ Staff have been here for 8-9 years. Generally will not leave as they were former
children from this pre-school.
⁃ The teachers are family oriented, have lived around this area since they were young
⁃ Seeing each other as a family member, communications are strong among all
employees, so there are no gaps.
⁃ Mrs Prem gives very flexible hours. Staff can ask for off if their other colleagues can
cover for them.
⁃ There are staff retreats: Taiwan, Bali, Bangkok

Challenge #3 - Government Regulations

⁃ Rules are set not seeing all the perspectives.
⁃ ELF is a small organisation and only need around 10 staff. Ratio is 1 foreign : 7 locals.
However, she cannot hire more locals just because she has to hire 1 foreigner
⁃ A lot of schools (public ones) set up around the area despite the 2km rule.
⁃ Only benefits the public sector, is hurting the private sector

Challenge #4 - Government Efforts

⁃ Need to inculcate the right mindset, not just raise the salary.
⁃ Ministry needs to realise its not about the salary.

Challenge #5 - Getting clients

⁃ Mainly word of mouth, social medias, maintaining relationship with parents.
⁃ But a lot of public childcare is offering lower rates and nearer locations (similar to
where ELF is) which affects business

Challenge #6 - Expectations from Parents

⁃ Parents are demanding because they pay high fees
⁃ want children want to be trained for Pri school, must be fully trained in P1 in order
for a smooth transition to Pri school.