Is your little one ready for preschool? This essential info from some of Singapore's top international schools will steer you in the right direction for that all important decision...
One minute you’re lamenting the woes of sleepless nights and breastfeeding issues, and the next your tiny person is almost ready to go to preschool. But when is the right time to send them off for their learning journey, what are the key considerations when making your preschool choice, and which curriculum would best suit your little learner? We’ve been talking to some of Singapore’s top international schools and preschools to get these burning questions answered…
Top preschool and kindergarten tips for parents
1. Tanglin Trust School
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
There’s no magic age. However, parents should do their research on preschools and see how they fit with their expectations or needs of the child and family. Here are some things to consider:
- Is the curriculum play-based? Or is the school more focused on academics?
- Their child’s unique personality and development, as this will impact the child’s social interaction, especially in a class setting.
- Emotional readiness: Is the child ready for separation? Will going to school cause anxiety? Or will it be a positive transition?
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
Tanglin’s early years are holistic and balanced, developing the whole child because happy children learn better. The school boasts a very strong pastoral programme which incorporates life skills. These include the five ways to wellbeing, with counsellors who understand early childhood development on site to bring out the best in each child. Children are also given leadership opportunities, which include being on the School Council, or being Planet Protectors, Wellbeing Warriors, Song Leaders, Tech Leaders, and Playtime Buddies.
Tanglin is also the first school in Asia to be awarded the Curiosity Approach accreditation; and in August 2021, the school also launched the Tanglin Forest School Programme – an outdoor-based learning model for early years. Both approaches encourage children to use authentic materials, to appreciate the natural environment and to use learning spaces as the “third teacher” to support play, exploration and wonder in learning, which are of utmost importance for children in their early years. This is so they can develop their academic, creative, personal and social skills.
Lastly, Tanglin is committed to following the interests and passions of the children. Our curriculum is personalised: open-ended, play-based and not too structured. Children also have access to specialist educators, such as those teaching Music, Physical Education and Chinese. Educators at Tanglin allow time for children to explore and socialise. The school also strives to create a nurturing environment, so that children can grow.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
The preschool should be right for you as a family, as every child is unique. The school’s core-curriculum and co-curriculum should also be “value-for-money”. Parents should also consider the distance each child has to travel to and from school daily so the child will not be too tired when they return home. It will also be harder to arrange playdates, which are an important part of a child’s social development; creating that sense of belonging and establishing relationships.
Being outside helps develop a whole different set of skills and so outdoor spaces, access to climbing frames and bikes is important. Teacher-child ratio is also important as this keeps children safe and also gives maximum opportunities to extend learning and develop conversations. At Tanglin, our teacher-child ratio ranges from 1:7 in Nursery to 1:12 in Year 2, allowing teachers to give bespoke provision to each child.
– Answered by Tanglin’s Head of Infant School
Tanglin Trust School’s profile
2. Canadian International School
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
This all depends on what you are most comfortable with as a parent. Research shows that high quality early years education programmes provide children with a significant head start in life and in learning, which benefits all the way into adulthood. The most important thing is that you choose a programme that meets the developmental needs of your child. It should be a programme that is rich in play and led by experienced early childhood educators.
At Canadian International School (CIS), we begin our nursery programme from two years old. We feel that this is an age where children can learn important social skills as part of a larger group, and engage in learning experiences that are not easily replicated at home. We focus on supporting the development of inquiry skills that will lay a rich foundation for future learning.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
Our early years curriculum is framed around the development of social skills and approaches to learning, as these support success in both life and in academics. We focus on self-concept, self control, interactions with others, and developing a sense of community. We nurture persistence, curiosity, self-organisation and reasoning. Through a play-based approach, we teach pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills that are differentiated to meet the unique needs and level of development of each child.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
When choosing a pre-school programme for your child, you should make sure that the school’s approach provides opportunities for your child to develop social skills and to learn through play. Children also benefit from experience in outdoor learning environments: does the school have access to an outdoor play space where children can experience and interact with nature? The classroom environment should be engaging, children should have access to a variety of hands-on materials, and there should be some level of choice in the classroom in terms of what the children can play with and do. It should be a learning environment that supports ‘learner agency,’ providing each child with voice, choice and ownership of their learning.
– Answered by Canadian International School’s educator
Canadian International School’s profile
3. St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
UNESCO emphasised that a child’s formative years between birth and eight years old are critical for setting the stage for their lifelong learning and wellbeing. Hence, it’s really important for you to choose an early childhood education programme that’s right for your children.
While many of Singapore’s early childhood education programmes have broad categories and programmes to cater for children from two months old onwards, we recommend parents to look beyond age to assess their children’s readiness. Factors to consider include your children’s social and emotional development, curiosity, communication skills, as well as your family’s needs. Then, find an early childhood programme with a philosophy, approach, and learning environment that aligns with your child’s unique learning style and your family’s needs.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool creates a nurturing environment for children to thrive in, driven by Lasallian values and our strong pastoral care that focus on character development and inclusivity. Our preschool is also equipped with excellent facilities and a low teacher-student ratio to ensure every child receives the attention and care they deserve.
The holistic development of children is something we prioritise. As such, our early years curriculum is designed to foster children’s wellbeing and personal growth alongside academic skills like literacy and numeracy. SJI International Preschool uses the inquiry-based approach to spark children’s natural curiosity, as well as help them achieve fluency in both English and Mandarin through a full immersion bilingual approach.
Besides that, the inquiry approach is applied into our unique outdoor learning programme too, where children have the chance to connect with nature, learning valuable life skills and develop a love for sustainability.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
Besides convenience and cost, we advise parents to consider the following factors when choosing the right preschool for their children:
- Your child’s unique needs and learning style: do they thrive in structure or play? Do they require support with social skills or special needs?
- Curriculum and learning philosophy: whatever the curriculum or approach is, ensure that it aligns with your values, as well as offers a good balance of academic and play-based activities.
- The language learning options offered
- Environment and culture: does it prioritise safety and cleanliness? Is it inclusive and welcoming?
You can make an informed choice to set your children on the path to success by thoughtfully addressing these key considerations.
– Answered by SJI International Preschool’s Head of Preschool
St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool’s profile
4. Dover Court International School
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
There’s no perfect answer, however, we do know that research has continuously shown a strong correlation between positive experience in a child’s early years and success in their later stages of education. So it’s all about finding a setting and programme that best suits your child, which will help them thrive. We recommend visiting the preschools that you’ve shortlisted – this is a great way to get an initial feel of the learning environment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and talk to the teachers during the tour, as they can provide insights about what school life would be like for your child.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
At Dover Court International School, the children’s best interests are at the heart of everything we do. Our curriculum is based on the UK Early Years Foundation Stage, and is also inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach; so it’s very much child-led and play-based.
Dover Court’s early years curriculum is intentionally designed this way as we understand the importance of play. Many recent researches point out that most areas of a child’s brains are simultaneously lit up when they’re engaged in play. As such, play is an essential medium for young children’s learning; and this develops their social and creative skills better.
Following the Reggio approach, our early years educators take great care in creating an environment that inspires meaningful encounters, creative explorations, and independent risk-taking for our young students. We view every child as capable and competent learners. Hence, we provide them with experiences both inside and outside the classroom so they can build realistic connections with the world around them, as well as extend their knowledge in a holistic manner.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
You may want to consider factors such as:
- The preschool’s educational approach: is it child-led and play-based; or a more formal approach that’s academic-focused?
- Availability of outdoor space and natural environment. We’re fortunate to have some wonderful outdoor spaces at Dover Court, including a garden atelier and outside atelier, as well as easy access to Medway Park outside of campus.
- Distance between your home and your chosen preschool.
- Classroom setting: does it look joyful and inspirational? Are there any real world materials and tools? Is it a multi-sensorial space?
- Level of communication between the preschool and parents. Ask the educators about how they keep you up to date with your child’s learning journey. Are there reports, online journals, or similar documentations?
- Student-to-teacher ratio. You’ll need to consider if your child is ready for a formal setting with higher student-to-teacher ratio; or is a smaller class size more suitable for them?
Ultimately, you should look for a preschool with a setting that’s a good fit for your child, and feels right for your family.
– Answered by an Early Years Specialist and Reception teacher at Dover Court International School
Dover Court International School’s profile
5. Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
Toddlers are at the tender age where they are only beginning to make sense of the world around them. Naturally, parents will be anxious when thinking about sending the little ones off to school. While there is no precise age to enrol children into the early years programme, it is important to provide vast experiences to allow these toddlers to explore and widen their exposure in a safe social environment.
Prosocial behaviours should also be introduced to toddlers to encourage socialisation as they are generally more inclined to play alongside each other rather than together. Hence, enrolling your young ones into an early years programme would provide them with the opportunities to develop their social skills, that are foundational in fostering stronger social-emotional development.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
The best way for toddlers to learn is through discovering things on their own, and what better way than to do it through play! Here at Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse, we adopt a play-based curriculum to enable our children to be involved in open-ended exploration. We believe that curiosity is the first step to learning and through exploration children will be able to use their five senses to support their learning. For instance, when children are engaged during sand play, they acquire early numeracy concepts such as ‘heavy’ and ‘light’. Our children become constructors of knowledge as they explore, discover and learn.
Through our curriculum, our children are also given opportunities to make choices and decide on what interests them. When these decisions are made in a playful and relaxed atmosphere, the play that occurs will undoubtedly help children to learn at an optimal level.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool program for my child?
Besides keeping a keen eye out for a curriculum that suits your child, we must not forget that a quality early years curriculum depends largely on the aspect of respectful caregiving. Respectful caregiving stems from meaningful and secured relationships between the educarer and the child.
Here at Kiddiewinkie Schoolhouse, we ensure that our educarers are sensitive and mindful in their interactions with the children in their care. We value each child as an individual by being attentive to their needs and development while attending to them responsively and appropriately.
– Answered by a Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse’s educator
Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse’s profile
6. Shaws Preschool
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
Choose a preschool that suits your child. In the early years, children love exploring, so we believe that the curriculum should be full of opportunities and experiences for the children to explore how the world works. This includes plenty of open ended activities, which allows not only exploration, but also creativity and problem solving. Children in the early years are also growing socially, so there should be plenty of opportunity for the children to work on things on their own, alongside other children, and to engage in activities where they have to try and work together with their friends. Although we want the children to explore freely, children at this age also feel safe with routine, so it is important to find a curriculum which provides a balance between structure and free activity that you are parents feel comfortable with. And of course, the great outdoors. Children love exploring, and having an outdoor facility allows children to explore nature.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
Shaws Preschool has a play based curriculum which hits all of the above. It is play based filled with exploration. The curriculum and schedule provides various activities for the children, ensuring the children are always engaged in whatever activities they are doing. There is plenty of outdoor space, and there is a strong sports programme which helps children’s coordination and physical wellbeing.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
Choose a programme that suits your child. It is important that the programme is tailored to the early years. Children in the early years develop at their own pace in different areas. The programme should be able to nurture all the children as they develop. It should not be a one-size-fits-all programme, especially for this age group, Even activities within the class should have different levels to suit different children. The teachers should be well trained in early childhood pedagogy to understand the milestones in the early years – this helps children develop confidently. Visit the school and check that the children should be engaged: this means they are happy to be there and enjoy learning.
– Answered by Shaws Preschool’s educator
7. One World International School
(a) What age should I consider enrolling my child for an early years education programme?
Children are eligible for our early childhood programme from the age of three years old. Our admissions are open throughout the year but this is dependent on the availability of places in the grade.
(b) What are the strengths of your early years curriculum?
The One World International School (OWIS) Early Childhood department is one big family. We pride ourselves on our dedicated and committed staff whose aim is to nurture young children through a play based curriculum approach. We encourage kindness and kind deeds and foster a caring and inclusive approach in everything we do in Early Childhood. All teachers spend considerable time planning exciting and interesting activities for the children in their class, which leads to happy, engaged children. OWIS follows the PYP curriculum. This is a child centred curriculum focussing on inquiry, where the children direct their learning. An important part of the PYP programme is the IB Learner Profile attitudes and attributes which teachers instill in children from Early Childhood and throughout their Primary School years. Examples of these attitudes and attributes are being a risk taker, collaborating, being caring, enthusiastic, principled and balanced, although there are many more. At OWIS we also use the UK document called ‘Letters and Sounds’ alongside the Jolly Phonics programme to teach phonics, reading and writing. This is a fantastic programme which is very successful in helping children progress in reading and writing.
(c) What should be the key considerations when choosing a preschool programme for my child?
I think the most important considerations are ‘Will my child be happy here?‘ and ‘Is the environment one that fosters learning?’. Parents should be encouraged to talk to the teachers of the school they are considering. Another important consideration is the links the school fosters with parents.