Preschools In Singapore: Which Age To Enroll Your Child?

Pre-school education is a natural stepping stone in a child’s early development. This is where they make the transition from home to school and are first exposed to learning in a classroom environment with other children. 

One would think that it wouldn’t take much effort for a parent to enrol their child into preschool, right? Contrary to popular belief, it can actually get quite competitive even at this early stage. In some countries, parents are even on waitlists just to get their children into preschool. 

Given the competitive environment in Singapore, a headstart for your little one may be worth considering. 

From knowing the right age to enrol to the different options available, here are five essential things to know when enrolling your child into preschool in the country. 

When To Enroll Your Child In Pre-School & 4 More Things You Must Know

1. When To Enroll Your Child

Up to today, there’s still an ongoing conversation about when actually is the right age to enrol your child into preschool. Before diving into the specifics, let’s take a look at preschool in the context of Singapore. 

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), preschool or nursery school is primarily for children under the age of 7 and includes half-day or full-day care programmes and kindergarten preschool education. 

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defined the preschool age range as three to five years old, some preschools in the country have seen children start anywhere between 18 months to 2 years old for those in the pre-nursery level. 

These programmes are geared towards children of this age range since they are more capable of responding to simple instructions, more used to daily socialisation and are overall more developmentally ready for school. 

While it is recommended for children to start preschool between 18 months to 2 years old, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all parents have to follow this to a tee. 

There’s no need to be too stringent; these recommended ages are merely suggested guidelines. At the end of the day, parents know their children the most and know when the best time is to enrol.

2. The Different Types Of Preschools In Singapore

In Singapore, the different types of preschools can be categorised as public/Government-supported preschools and private preschools. 

Most public preschools fall under MOE Kindergartens, which operate directly under the guidance of MOE with the aim of providing quality and affordable education to local kids. Other well-known public preschools in Singapore include NTUC My First Skool, PCF Sparkle Tots and Skool4Kidz, amongst many others. 

On the other hand, private preschools are essentially international independent institutions that aren’t supported by the Singapore government. Some of the most in-demand international preschools in the country are Australian International School, Etonhouse, Pat’s Schoolhouse, and Tanglin Trust School. 

When choosing the right place for your child, some of the most important factors to consider are the curriculum and teaching methods, class size, location, and the teacher-to-size class ratio. So, be sure to do your own research beforehand. 

3. Why International Pre-School Provides An Edge

While plenty has been done over the years to boost the quality of Singapore’s preschool education, international preschools still have a certain edge that cannot be found elsewhere. 

Most public preschools tend to have a one-size-fits-all curriculum for their students. However, private preschools adopt a unique educational philosophy that focuses on a student’s needs. 

Once the child’s strengths and areas of improvement are identified, the teachers then provide personalised guidance that will aid in the child’s growth. This allows for more individualised attention for each student and a more holistic approach to early education. 

On top of that, private preschools also hire specialised teachers with expertise in specific areas and adopt smaller class sizes to improve overall engagement and participation in class. 

4. The Costs Of An International Pre-School Education

Since they don’t have access to additional government funding that local schools have, it’s expected for international preschools to have more costly tuition fees. But even so, parents can rest assured in the fact that every penny is worth the investment in their child’s development. 

To give you a rough gauge of what the costs would look like, here’s a look at the *AIS tuition fees per semester according to level. 

*These fees are subject to 9% GST and do not include the application and enrollment fee.

5. Pre-School Develops Your Child For Success

If you’re still debating on whether to enrol your child to preschool or not, let it be known that there’s a plethora of benefits in doing so. 

Being exposed to a warm and welcoming preschool environment gives children the unique experience to practice their socialisation and cooperation skills with other kids. 

Apart from interacting with children their age, this allows them to adapt to the concept of structured learning, which is immensely valuable as they move on up to higher levels of education over the years. 

Get An Academic Headstart at AIS 

If you’re looking to get a headstart for your child’s preschool education, we’re here to make that happen. 

At AIS, we are committed to providing the best education for your child every step of the way. 

Simply book an on-site tour with us today to get started!