Wondermum | ExpatWoman.com
 

Wondermum

Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 July 2014 - 19:08
I know it doesn't help a lot but if you are moving villa in dubai and can show your new tenancy contract they give you 10% of all full priced items. Quite a saving on a 24 k sofa!
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 June 2014 - 22:32
My son has been seeing Dr Rolef too. Very happy with her and she explains things well to both parents and the child. Would definitely recommend.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 19:20
Try Dr Ursula Rolef she just tested my child for celiac and crohns and was very thorough and explained things very clearly. She's at health bay clinic, al wasl road.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 May 2014 - 01:25
I agree with plain jane. Yes the facilities are amazing but due to the number of children and disorganisation the children rarely get to use them. I moved my children out of this school this year and am pleased I did as they were starting to fall behind. During assessments in other British schools my fears were confirmed. They were definitely not up to scratch, even though they were both in top sets at Gems. You need to ask yourself why the teachers at WSO don't often put their own children in the school....and why they have so many newly qualified young staff who have never actually taught anywhere else before who never stay more than the required 2 years contract. I know teachers from this school that forfeit their free child places and put them in non Gems schools, if the school is so amazing why would they do this?
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 May 2014 - 17:31
Try the good housekeeping company. Very well trained staff that work very thoroughly. Trained by British lady with lots of hotel experience. I have the same lady twice a week. You pay a little bit more 45-50 AED an hour. But after trying different services they are far superior in their cleaning ability and this maid gets more done in 2 x 4 hour sessions than my full time maid ever achieved!
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2014 - 17:55
My daughter age 6 is also new to Dess, and not sporty but I don't feel that it is rammed down their throats, they are all just encouraged to try and do their best. I agree that it's important as a new parent at the school that you try to get to school at least once a week. It is a very friendly and approachable crowd that have welcomed us with open arms. I feel that my friendships there have helped my daughter find her own friendships. Personally I don't think cultural background or ethnicity come into play at this school and question why it is continually being brought up as a worry. The children all play together regardless and in my daughters class there is a real mix of nationalities. Try to attend one of the coffee mornings or social events arranged by your class rep and meet some of the other mums. I'm sure it will help. I'm sure your daughters wobble is more linked to the big move from the uk and settling into her new life generally not just that the school is at fault. Hope this helps a little:)
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2014 - 23:10
Also look at the early childhood intervention centre in healthcare city. Dr Fiona is a British child psychologist and is excellent. An initial assessment here is a fifth of the price of Kids First.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2014 - 23:09
Also look at the early childhood intervention centre in healthcare city. Dr Fiona is a British child psychologist and is excellent.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2014 - 19:48
My son has recently needed to see a paediatric urologist and we were recommended to see Dr Bilek on al wasl road. He did surgery at Medcare hospital and we have been extremely happy. He explained everything to us and my son and even came in on his day off to do a check up. He spends time explaining everything fully and never makes us feel hurried. I would highly recommend him.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 March 2014 - 14:24
Have you considered Victory Heights school or the new Safa Community school which is due to open sept 2014. This would be handy to Dso for school runs. They have a sign up at the moment to say they are taking enrolments for sept. Just a thought?
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 March 2014 - 14:04
Hi Lib56. I have children similar ages to yours that attended wso and moved them last year. My kids reports said that they were doing great, in the top sets and both kids were happyish. I felt the school had lost it's personal touch and questioned if the school really knew my children at all. When I looked around at other schools and took assessments it turns out my children were not top set as wso said but actually nearly a year behind compared to other British curriculum schools. Yes WSO has amazing facilities but not amazing teacher retention and actually I had to ask myself why many of the WSO teachers don't have their kids in their school. Many are at other non gems schools around dubai . To me that speaks volumes. I have some friends that are very happy at WSO but that is because they may have no comparison of what is available in Dubai or that their kids require special needs assistance, at which WSO has a good reputation. Personally I have no regrets about moving my children and their level of work has improved no end since moving them. Schooling opinions is like opening a can of worms over here. What works for one doesn't work for another but remember that Gems is a money making business, personally I would look at the not for profit schools if there is any availability. Good luck :) <em>edited by Wondermum on 25/03/2014</em>
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 22:12
I've just moved my children from WSO to DESS for those reasons and have no regrets. My children are happy in DESS and were reluctant to leave their friends at WSO but they have settled quickly and were made to feel so welcome. They have consistent relevant homework that is always marked. I feel the teachers and the school know my children as individuals already. At WSO I felt school reports were generic and some of the teachers didn't know my children at all. Also at WSO my children were in the top set for everything, that is not the case at DESS, if anything they are catching up! Moving them was definitely the best move for us.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2014 - 19:02
Mrs.P I totally agree with you. It's so grad to find a good maid. I have done 10 interviews over the last two weekends. I made the job description clear that I wish to sponsor them, hours expected to work etc. 3 maids didn't turn up at all and have never been in contact. 1 turned up 2 hours late....with the excuse she couldn't get out of bed as she had a cold. 2 wanted to stay on husbands visa , " Madam it will save you money" ...yes until I get a 50 k fine! 2 wanted obscene money....2500aed per month plus 400aed for food and toiletries , oh and a 2 day weekend.....some people must agree to this? I offered one maid a job but she wanted to wanted me to match a salary she'd been offered at another interview that weekend, even though I was asking her to work 40 hours less a week. The last maid was given a bad reference, which turned out to be bogus as the reference counter offered her her job back! She was lovely too. I dispare over the whole recruiting a good maid situation and am not sure where to look now either.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 February 2014 - 08:34
Hi yorky, I went the other day and had Bernice. Very happy with the results, felt very pampered too. I've got blonde hair but have highlights, this is the first salon here that I feel have done a really good job and not given me a yellow blonde. I had a cut too, and she did exactly as I asked. I would definitely go back. As it's part of the same group as the nail spa you can get your mani/ped done at the same time too.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 February 2014 - 21:30
Not sure if they are reputable but they are sneaky. Trying to find a maid myself and called 3 of the available for work maids advertised in the classified section on here. None of the numbers were for actual maids but were linked through the mobile numbers to a call centre of this company. They want a subscription fee of 450aed and then you can access their website of available maids. They also rang me after having seen my advertisement for a maid on EW. Would be interested to see if anyone has experience of using this company.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 14:56
Try Bernice at the new salon Marqee at Arabian ranches golf club. All British trained staff and really pleased with my cut and highlights. New salon and lovely atmosphere. Owned by the same people that run Nailspa.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 14:53
Try emailing Tiffany at [email protected]. She's done an amazing cake and cupcakes for my daughters birthday and her prices are really good too.
Wondermum
18
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 October 2013 - 16:55
Thanks ladies, thought I was missing something...I'll cross my fingers that my turn will come then. It must be a coincidence that the few spaces there are have gone to people I know. Mags are your children really happy there? I only ever hear great things about the school.
 
 
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