Tadika Nemo Bestari, a licensed 6-classroom kindergarten under the Ministry Of Education (Selangor), has seen over 10 years of success as a trusted kindergarten-cum-daycare center in SS14 Subang Jaya, with little students who not only started but also ended their early education journey here.
This establishment appears to be the choice of so many parents despite increasingly stiff competition in the arena of early childhood education for the past decade or so. Waiting to greet us there earlier this week was its co-owner Mdm Marlene - her hubby and partner Mr Mano joined us a little later.
The premise was exceptionally clean and it was later revealed that they were indeed awarded a 4-Star rating for cleanliness by Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ). CCTV units in the classrooms as well as key areas of the premise offered the added assurance of proper safety precautions.
Another notable feature was an array of framed documents on the wall, which instantly put to rest any doubts about licensing, certifications, etc. It was later revealed too that every educator at Tadika Nemo Bestari is at minimum, an Early Childhood Education diploma holder from Kolej Dika, an institution known to produce fine experts in early childhood education and development.
A smooth sailing journey for over a decade and still going strong
It all started sometime late in 2008 when Madam Marlene, a Kolej Dika graduate herself, decided that it was high time she ran her own kindergarten. She was teaching in a reputable international school before a brief string of events and opportunities then led to the taking over the kindy from its former owner and refurbishing the premise to a pleasing, homely state with a conducive environment for little ones to learn and play. It didn’t take long for Madam Marlene to be reckoned with in the community of SS14 and everyone now addresses her as ‘teacher’.
A passion for teaching and a drive to make a lasting impact in the lives of their little students are the main factors that helped Madam Marlene and her staff of educators strive on in the thriving yet competitive industry of early childhood education. They work in synchronicity to nurture the intellectual, emotional, mental, social and physical developments of the growing kids of 2 to 6 years old under their care.
Tadika Nemo Bestari has a reputation for having a pleasant working environment and passionate teachers. Mdm Marlene ensures that all teachers receive in-house training to enhance their skills and knowledge. The teachers at Tadika Nemo Bestari are committed to their work, which is evident from their long years of service. Some teachers have been teaching at the kindergarten until their retirement, and the longest serving teacher has been with Tadika Nemo Bestari for seven years. This is a testament to the positive work culture and the teacher's passion for their job here.
Teaching approach and programmes
Through an integrated approach of teaching used here, which is based on theories and best practices on early childhood education and development, every child is prioritised with attentive care to ensure that they are well prepared for the next level of their early education journey without sacrificing their precious childhood years. Here, only original books are given to students and not photostated copies as practiced in numerous other kindergartens. It’s also highly commendable that the youngest age group of the lot have an adorable mock kampung house as their classroom, right next to the safe and sturdy kindy playground.
Whilst adhering to the national preschool curriculum, namely the Kurikulum Standard Prasekolah Kebangsaan, the students are progressively taught and guided with age-appropriate Thematic Learning integrated with Play, an approach which has helped many of their graduates move on to excel in school regardless if they enrolled into independent Chinese schools, international schools, national schools (SRJK) or national Chinese schools (SJK(C)). Many graduates of Tadika Nemo Bestari have been bagging awards such as “Anak Cemerlang” consistently throughout their education.
The kindergarten programmes offered include:
- Mathematics
- Science
- Bahasa Malaysia
- English Language
- Computer Studies
- Arts And Craft
- Music & Movement
- Physical Education
- Practical Life Lessons
- Sand Play and Water Play
- Drama & Public Speaking Classes
- Christian Education/Moral
- Cultural Studies
- Cookery Classes
- Gardening
- Music Classes (Ukulele & Guitar)
- Field Trips
- Holiday Programmes
Kindergarten classes are carried out in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, and parents may opt for either Half Day (morning or afternoon session); Mid Day (both morning and afternoon sessions); or Full Day (morning, afternoon and evening sessions). Extra Mandarin classes are offered to students who will be enrolling into SJK(C) as well as independent Chinese schools. An enrichment programme based on the acclaimed Singapore schooling syllabus is also offered to full day students and this further equips them for successful enrolment into practically any primary school nationwide be it SRJK, SJK(C), Private or International.
Moreover, Tadika Nemo Bestari’s academic year runs from January to December, but the teachers finish teaching the syllabus by October, so that they can focus on revision in the months of November and December. This strategy is aimed at ensuring the children are ready to enter the next level. They will be better prepared when they go to school.
A safe, loving and nurturing environment
In terms of teacher-student communication, great care is taken to ensure that students feel accepted and cared for. Pertaining to their well-being whilst in her care, Madam Marlene also revealed that she has the cooperation of a doctor whose clinic is just nearby in case of any medical emergencies.
Parents need not worry about what their children will be fed either for all meals are prepared in their own kitchen to ensure proper, nutrition for developing bodies, be it their morning snack, lunch or evening snack. Furthermore, Tadika Nemo Bestari has the added benefit of a market nearby, so all raw food ingredients are purchased every morning to ensure the best possible freshness for preparing wholesome meals for all the children daily.
Consequently, word of mouth and high recommendations by parents of present students as well as former ones has made Tadika Nemo Bestari a sought-after kindy and daycare in Subang Jaya. Its mid-range fees and transportation services that cover a number of areas around Subang Jaya add to its value for parents and their kids alike.
Starting them young
Starting the children’s nurturing journey young, at 2 years of age, improves their IQ significantly, even till the level of 3 years of age. Mdm Marlene explained that the younger they start, the easier it is for the children to learn. From her experience, Mdm Marlene emphasised that it is best to not focus on memorizing, but observe each child to gauge their level to better customise the lessons to serve their needs, so that they can achieve their highest potential earlier in life.
Life in the post-pandemic era
After the children started to resume their classes at Tadika Nemo Bestari, they were taught about the importance of hygiene. They learnt about sanitising and cleanliness. As a direct result, Mdm Marlene was happy to report that incidences of cold and flu and even skin problems among the children have reduced significantly.
Food-wise, since the pandemic years, the children have gotten used to eating homecooked food, which is healthier and more wholesome. Thus, they readily accept the daily meals cooked by the staff of Tadika Nemo Bestari.
The children had missed going out during the lockdowns, so they enjoy the field trips even more now. For example, they visited a keropok factory in Banting in February 2023. They were not only excited to see how keropok was made, but were also happy to see live chickens, fruit trees and wooden houses in the villages, which they could not see in the city.
