Tinytots School in Basel (Now known as EarlyLearning Association)

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Dear Members,

I visited Tiny Tots primary school ( http://earlylearningassociation.ch/index.htm -- which is now EarlyLearning Association) in Basel city, which is close to Basel SBB station. I found that, they are offering full time primary school in english medium (Upto the age of 12 years).

The principal told me that they are following UK curriculum (COBIS).

Does any one have their kids in this school for primary grade? If so, how is the standard of the education. Basically, my intention is drawing a comparison between ISB (Internation School Basel) and Tiny Tots school for my 7 year old kid.

As I am new to Basel, I am looking for information from you all that have spent sometime here and understand the environment.

Thanks in advance.

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Does really no-one know anything about the place to help the OP? Seems odd. Usually a Thread like this gets masses of replies. If you prefer to PM that's fine but as 'daroori' repeated the Post, I presume she/he hasn't received much information.

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Can anyone share the information on this please?

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I think this must be a new thing for Tiny Tots - certainly last year they only went up to Kindergarten age (and even that part was also relatively new - when the name changed from Tiny Tots to ELA), so probably not many people (if any) have tried the primary age to give advice.

They do have an excellent reputation as a daycare centre though so if they apply the same standards to their older kids education then I would imagine it will be a real "contender" in the English education market, but as I said, I think it's probably just too new to say.

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My little one is in the Swiss system so sadly I have nothing to help the OP regarding the English daycare/schools. Come on someone, give the OP some help

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I would love to help, but after applying for the Tiny Tots a year ago I'm still waiting for my daughter to get in. At that time it was for free, now I had to pay a fee of 100 CHF to apply for my son (it's crazy, you pay only to be in the waiting list !!). So I would like to hear about the Tiny Tots in this forum as well. My suspicion is that they give priority to the ones who apply for a 100 % attendance. I applied for 60 % and I'm still waiting........

7
Thanks for replies. Can someone please guide me what are the other sources that I can reach to, to enquire about the standards in this school.

The only options I have is choosing between ISB or Tiny tots for my 7 years old daughter. Tiny tots will be easier for commute to my wife for pickup and dropping off my daughter as she has to carry an infant while taking care of this task.

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Dear Suzagna,

Is the waiting list for day care or for the primary school? In the primary school classes, I see fewer kids, so I am wondering is there really a waiting list for admission for the primary school class?

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There is a waiting list, however, it appears to be ''fluid'' . . . if you have more than one child to enroll you seem to jump ahead. Also, when i called to check on status, it took several days for someone to get back to me which I interpreted as a sign that there is no actual ''list'' . . . rather a pool and depending on what pull you might have (how many kids you may enroll, etc.) the length of wait differs. (I was told that it was full, no room for my K daughter, then a colleague moves here one week later & there was room for his same-aged son--he also enrolled an older sibling).

That said, several colleagues have children in the school & seem quite happy. My general sense is that the academic pace is somewhat ahead of ISB, at least for K. In general, I think the schools that follow the UK curriculum start younger & move faster with reading skills than in the US system which the ISB more closely approximates. I don't have a child at either school, BTW. My child attends SIS.

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This is a great information. Very fortunate to get atleast someone who knows their coleagues/friends' kids study in their school.

I agree with you, UK curriculum willl be ahead of ISB that's why I tend to admit in this school (ofcourse, the proximity convenience).

Woiuld you mind to enquire little bit more information from your colleagues who have their kids in school. My kid is about 7 years this septemeber. How will the study for that age group in this school.

Thank you very much in advance!

Regards

Srini

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Hi I am looking for some info for the same place but for the toddlers. Is someone here send their toddler to this place?

I would like to get some infos, thanks!

Nil

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Up and hoping to get some answers!

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I don't know about that place. But can say the Open Door are excellent.

http://www.opendoorbasel.ch/

Nil you can send your little one from age 2. My son started at 2. They go for 2 mornings a week - lots of play. As they get older the time increases, so that when they are 4 they can go 3 whole mornings a week and start to learn letters and numbers etc. It's excellent and VERY affordable!

It is however, more a solution for people wishing to put their kids through the Swiss system. The classes continue after 4 in the afternoons (twice a week when they are not at Swiss school) they also follow the UK primary school syllabus.

My son still goes on a late Wednesday afternoon and he's 9. Has been with the same group of kids for 7 years so it's kind of nice. He is now reading Harry Potter himself - if anything he reads more in English than German.

A different alternative for kids along the lines of a day school is the academia international bi-lingual primary school. I teach at the college, so I have little to do with the primary school - but I know the teachers over there and they are an amazingly caring group.

More info here:

http://www.academia-international.ch...l-en/index.php

Sorry I can't help about Tiny Tots - I've heard of them, but nothing specific and don't know anyone who has kids who have been there - nor do I know any of the teachers there.

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Thanks Steph,

I called tinytots and I wasn't impressed. First they have a waiting list until May and they charge 100 chf to be put on this list... (WTF)

I am very disgusted right now of the prices for childcare/playgroups.

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Apologies if I am slightly turning the thread, but StephanieWD, regarding Academia, the location puts me off. I know you do not teach in the younger section but do you know how they deal with outside play and sport in the preschool and primary? Do they have any outside space at all?

Stephanie WD mentions Open Door, and for those interested in supplemental English classes for children attending Swiss school, another good alternative to the Open Door is Ahead with English in Therwil which offers classes for children of all ages, including morning pre school for children not yet old enough to attend kindergarten - up to 4 mornings a week.

I too have no experience of Early Learning Association - save having tried to look into them a few months ago and deciding to pursue other options in view of the fact that they are such a recent addition to the educational offering in Basel but admittedly that is no reason to discount them.

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Hi ecb.

Yes, 'ahead with English' also has a really good reputation too. The reason I chose Open Door was because we don't have a car and it's just easier to get to on public transport from the Basel region.

re: academia primary school. They have the use of the sports facilities of the Swiss primary school which is literally facing them. They have the usual facilities as far as I'm aware, sports halls, and I think a pool (though would need to double check) Sports is definitely timetabled into the week plan as I know the sports teacher - a fab ozzy lady! The school does have grounds to play out in at the front - I don't know how play times are arranged as I don't work over there

Nil - do check out Open Door or Ahead with English. Open Doors prices are VERY affordable. And I'm sure Ahead with English have similar prices.

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I checked... But as the majority, they begin just at 3 years old. I don't understand what is it here about it. 2 years old have as much energy to spend and interests to learn.

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Nil, I think it's because of the difference in development between the ages of two and three. The environment and playthings a 3 year old needs can often still be dangerous for a 2 year old. I tried to offer places for two year olds when I opened my Playgroup but within a short period I put the age up to a minimum of 2 and a half. Even with the extra 6 months, I do a trial period as some kids are ready, others aren't.

Another reason is a cost factor, you need more staff if you have a couple of two year olds, especially if you want to give them the care and attention they need and should have at that age.

There are usually playgroups for toddlers and two's at most Gemiendschaft centers.

Good luck in finding something as I'm sure you'd want your daughter settled and happy before no 2 comes along.

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Hello,

I am teaching at ELA, so can give you a little background information, based on the queries that have been asked on this thread. I won't go to go into the advantages/disadvantages of one school over another in Basel, as obviously I am not equally familiar with alternatives. Also, I am a teacher, not a marketing person and my comments are my own, not an official response from the school.

ELA, as a school, has "grown" out of the Tinytots childcare centre, which is a nonprofit, parent-run organisation (is Verian the German word?)

Tinytots has been in Basel for over ten years ( 12? 14?) and used to be in two different centres. They came to gether in one larger centre in July 2008, which is when the school opened in a separate building on the same site. The Daycare centre takes children from 3 months old and has been registered for the compulsory Baselstadt kindergarten years, since it became compulsory. The school has also passed registration requirements and as such, both places have inspections from the Baselstadt Education authority to ensure local standards are maintained.

The school is also a member of COBIS ( mentioned in an earlier thread) being the "Council of British International School." The school curriculum is based on the National curriculum of England and Wales, with adaptations for living in Basel. For example, there is no requirement in the UK for children to learn German, but all the ELA students do have regular German lessons. The same goes for the iceskating that I am taking advantage of with my class at the moment and for the choir, the recorder and keyboard lessons that are available.

The school began with two classes, being the equivalent of the Basel two kg years agewise, or Reception ( final year of the foundation stage) and Primary 1 (of Key Stage 1) in UK terminology, but called Primary 1 and Primary 2 at ELA. The idea is to "grow" one year group each year until the school has all the primary year classes. The school has actually grown faster than planned and now has two Primary 1 classes ( one of them being mine), plus P2,3 and 4. In August, P5 will be added.

Academically, children are taught from where they are at when they arrive at the school. We have the scope to differentiate. This means that we have the time to give extra help to children who need it, but also arange our programme so that those who have aquired a concept or skill, can either consolidate with more indepth projects etc, or move ahead at their own academic pace.

Regarding the query on outside play areas at local schools: ELA has a large, secure outdoor area between the daycare centre and the school and all the children use it every day. As well, all the school childrren are taken to swimming lessons throughout the year, are taken weekly to local parks and to a gym to be able to fully carry out curriculum requirements ( and have fun, too.) Other opportunities are taken as they arise, for example most of the children are having several iceskating sessions over December and January; 100% of the children chose to do a special fitness programme in November, with over 60% of them choosing to take part in the last Basel Stadtlauf (city run)

A general comment on waiting list fees at schools: this is not an uncommon practice in private schools throughout the world. My understanding is that it is to deter parents from putting their children on more than one waiting list, which in turn makes it harder for any school to be able to plan and predict for the future.

My personal opinion is that I think it is great that Basel has several options for schooling, both private and public ( including the differences between Baselstadt, Baselland and Solothurn canton regulations, especially for preschoolers) That means that parents have choices and are able to have a look at all options to find which school best fits their individual needs and the needs of their children.

Smiles, Biff

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As a parent with experience of both the nursery and school sections of the ELA, I would happily recommend them. I have no experience of the other options available in Basel, but the ELA approach seems to effectively combine learning, fun, and new experiences in a well balanced way.

One notable advantage of the ELA (for those whose timetables need it) is that the centre opens at 7.30am and closes at 6pm.

In defence of the waiting list fee, I seem to remember that it is treated as a deposit and is deducted from the first bill. What happens to the money if you withdraw your child from the waiting list before getting a place, I don't know.