URGENT!! - ESF or HLY???

[jane01]

I agree with Ozekid - choose the school which suits your child ! I personally prefer the international school system. The school my daughters attend (not HLY) is very involved in the community and responsive to parents concerns. You only need see the complaints about ESF on this site to get a feel for the 'system'. It is a small school with a great feel about it.

It is true that ESF has excellent academic results, but remember they pick and choose their pupils. Most of the international schools just take children from the waiting list.

ESF may be cheaper (due to government subsidies), but what else are you going to spend your $$ on that your children's education?

[itsybitsymom]

Hello!

I have visited ESF TY and impressed by this school. Undoubtdely very good! But I think HLY is more suitable for my kid and decided to take HLY offer instead.

Hi HLY parents - pls help me one more time to answer my curiosity as below:

I've heard that the max. number of kids at Nursery around 27. Isn't it too many? Still each kid gets individual full attention? Mine is very shy.

How are kids' English or Mandarin level at the end of Reception? Can they read book? Do I expect too much? or at least they know how to read or recognise ABC or some basic Chinese??? I mean in general...just want to get some idea..

If someone leaves the school (after Reception or in the middle of term), what is the main reason for that? Chinese? or any unsatisfaction?

How is relationship between parents?

Are there many music/dancing time for kids at Nursery or Reception? Mine loves to dance and sing...

Thanks a million again!!!

[itsybitsymom]

I think ESF and HLY are very good schools and they are quite similar. I can say HLY is a miniature version of ESF. Do you agree with me??

[Klam]

Hi itsybitysmom

My son will be attending nursery at HLY in Sept as well, so hope to see you there! Will your child be attending half or full day? I also have a daughter in Y3.

I know the nursery are full at the moment but neither the full nor half day classes have 27 children. The full day probably have the maximum of 24 students and I believe they are not taking anymore applicants.

My daughter never went through the Kindy at HLY but in terms of Mandarin, I know from Sept, the kindy classes have been increased to at least 3 times a week for 45mins a day, which is really good.
If you really are concerned about how advanced the children will be at Reception, it might be better to speak to the teachers as they are always readily available for a chat.

From experience, you will always be informed of what your child is doing and I know with my daughter, the parents receive a short notice at the beginning of the week explaining what the students will be studying that week. All parents Kindie and Primary are able to access a weekly newsletter from the HLY website (school is going paperless) which covers what has been happening during the week. The communication from the school is very good.

I have known people who have left HLY, but only because they were relocated back to their own countries.

In terms of relationships between the parents, I suppose it depends on the parents themselves :) but I know every parent (well mothers) in my daughters year and loads of others in different year groups. You will find that parents at HLY are generally very friendly..so nothing to worry about.

If you would like to meet up for a chat one day, just pm me.

[itsybitsymom]

Hi Klam - Very glad to meet you here! My girl will be attending a half day this year. How about yours? Happy that we will become parents of students at the same school. Very exciting!! I also hope to see you some day at school. Nice meeting you AGAIN!!

[mumsy]

I understand that the class size at Nursery is normally 22 but they will increase to max 24 if there are any overseas kids relocating to HK.

Currently there are 22 kids in my son's nursery class (19 started in Sept and 3 more started later in Jan).

There are also 3 teachers in each nursery class - 2 permanent full time staff and 1 extra part-time assistant.

I agree it would be best to speak to the reception teachers if you want to know more about the english/mandarin level.

A lot would really depend on the child's ability too. For instance, my son is one of the younger ones and does not have very good control with a pen so he is not learning to write yet but I know some other kids are. On the other hand, he already knew his ABC's before starting kindergarten, and at the moment is given very basic books to help begin reading.

I'm told the pace really picks up at Reception level so I'm sure the reading/writing will advance a lot.

I don't know anyone who has left the school mid-term, but there are a few considering moving after Reception. Mainly these are local parents who want their children to be totally fluent in chinese so are choosing ESF Renaissance or other chinese schools. Some are also choosing ESF Shatin because they live in Fotan/Shatin and closer for them plus cheaper.

If you are sending/collecting your child to school yourself, then you will have a great chance to meet and chat with other parents. I know the majority of the parents in my kids class and also some parents in the other nursery class too. But if you work, there will also be some introductory meetings in Sept/Oct for you to attend. Also your child will probably get a few birthday invites during the year so another chance to socialise.

At nursery, they have two sessions of music/dancing time - at the start of school and again just before hometime.

I can't really say whether HLY is like ESF as I don't have first hand experience of ESF - but I'm a little surprised that no ESF parents replied to this thread and what they think of the ESF system.