Preschool Education - A Guide To Singapore Nurseries/Preschools

With more than 500 nurseries and preschools in Singapore, your child will be well looked after. Children in pre-schools are usually aged between three and five but often there are places for two year olds as well. A nursery/preschool is a great place for your child to develop social and learning skills and give you some extra time for work, chores, or relaxing.

A good preschool will have broad, balanced and purposeful curriculum, delivered through planned play activities to help ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Children will develop skills such as speaking, listening, persistence, as well as early reading, writing and numeracy.

Nursery programmes are normally scheduled for two hours, several days a week; and kindergarten programmes are scheduled for three to four hours daily, five days a week. Many centres offer full-day programs as well. Nurseries and preschools in Singapore come in two flavours: a) the local system nurseries and preschools that will prepare your child for education in a local school system; b) the international system preschools that will prepare your child for education in an international school in Singapore.

Local System Nurseries and Preschools

Local system preschools, commonly known as kindergartens, in Singapore are mostly run by private, community, religious, social or business organizations. These preschools generally provide a three-year early childhood education programme – nursery, kindergarten 1 and kindergarten 2 – for children between the ages of three and six.

The school year for local system nurseries and preschools begins on January 2 each year. There is a one-week vacation after the first and third term, a four-week vacation at mid-year and six weeks at year-end. Your child is required to be between the ages of three and four to qualify for the enrollment in the nursery programme, the age of five for the enrollment in the kindergarten 1 programme, and the age of six for the enrollment at the kindergarten 2 programme.

Students of local system preschools are taught language and literacy skills, basic number concepts, simple science concepts, social skills, creative and problem solving skills and music appreciation via fun learning activities and play. Learning activities are carried out in English, with an additional second language choice of Mandarin, Malay or Tamil class. Staff at the better nurseries and preschools in Singapore are qualified in teaching or childcare. You should contact the nursery or preschool of your choice directly for further information on admission. Most nurseries and preschools conduct enrollment exercises as early as March each year for admission to programmes in the following year.

Fee Guidance

The school fees for local system nurseries and preschools are between $75 and $150 per month for nursery programmes; and between $100 and $300 per month for kindergarten programmes.

List of Popular Local Nurseries and Preschools in Singapore

• PCF Kindergarten: A community kindergarten set up by the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) which focuses on “language learning, mathematics, art and crafts, music and movement and learning through play”.
• Chatsworth Kindergarten: A local kindergarten with an “international foundation and an international perspective”.
• Little Oaks Montessori Kindergarten: A kindergarten that exclusively adheres to the Montessori philosophy of child education.
• Bethesda Kindergarten: A church kindergarten that builds its education curriculum on the foundation of foundation of Christian principles and practice.
• Kinderland Kindergarten: A kindergarten and childcare that provides infant and childcare, bilingual preschool education and student care.

International System Nurseries and Preschools

There are also international system nurseries and preschools in Singapore that specially cater to the children of expatriates. Run by expatriate educators, these schools can either function according to the educational system of your native country (thus admitting students of only your nationality) or according to the general international educational system (thus admitting students from various nationalities). Such nursery and preschool programmes are often a prelude to higher learning programmes – all of which are offered in the same school.

Most of the primary and secondary international schools in Singapore offer pre-school programs at their campus. Apart from these full international system school, there are also, however, private international nurseries and preschools that solely offer early childhood education for children aged between three and six.

Fee Guidance

The tuition fees for international preschool programs are normally considerably higher than the local nurseries and preschools and can range from S$800 to S$1500 per month. The school fees typically exclude deposits, placement fees, registration fees, infrastructure fees and school materials.

Popular International Preschools

Pre-School Programs at International K-12 Schools Most of the well-known international schools offering K-12 education in Singapore also offer pre-school classes. If you plan to send your child to one of these schools once he/she reaches school age, it might be a good idea to send your child for pre-schooling there. For more information on K-12 international schools, refer to Singapore International Schools guide.

Other popular international pre-schools centres include:

• Willow Nursery: A private international nursery and preschool which emphasizes on personal, social and emotional development; knowledge and understanding of the world; communication, language & literacy; physical development; mathematical development; and creative development.
• Rosemount Kindergarten:  A private international kindergarten that possesses a warm, caring and ‘family’ atmosphere.
• EIS International Pre-school: A Japanese kindergarten which emphasizes individuality.
• Eton House International Pre-School: A private international nursery and preschool which emphasizes on personal, social and emotional development; knowledge and understanding of the world; communication, language & literacy; physical development; mathematical development; and creative development.
• Konohana Gakuin Kindergarten: A Japanese kindergarten that develops multilingual learners with international outlooks.

Enrollment Requirements for Children of Expatriates

Your child must have a valid dependent or student pass in order to enroll into a nursery/preschool in Singapore. If your child is on dependent pass, no additional paperwork formalities are required. On the other hand, to register and apply for your child’s student pass, you will first need to secure a placement for your child in a local kindergarten. With a confirmation letter or document from the principal of the kindergarten, you can then apply for a student pass at the Information & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Nurseries and preschools in Singapore come in two flavors: the one that prepare children for local school education and the ones that prepare students for education at international schools.

Choose The Right Preschool

You know your child best – look for a pre-school you feel will suit your child. Finding a preschool that's right for your child will make his/her days pleasurable and stimulating, and give you peace of mind. As part of finding the best available Singapore preschool program for your child, you should also pay a visit to visit the schools of your interest. You can also refer to the checklist for choosing a preschool listed separately on this website.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass