A Guide to the 30 Best Preschools in Singapore

Are you a parent looking for the best preschools in Singapore? If so, worry no more because we have you covered!

Considering that there are hundreds of options to choose from, finding the right preschool for your child can be an overwhelming task. If you’re specifically after a preschool that complements your parenting style, you’re definitely going to find one today.

We’ve put together our own megalist featuring top preschools on the island, based on curriculum, facilities, location, and child-to-teacher-ratio, among others. We’ve also included all the other information that parents need, from the costs to the languages offered!

The Cost of Preschools in Singapore

Preschools in Singapore allow full-time working parents to focus on their jobs without worrying about the welfare of their children. Obviously, it comes with a huge cost.

On average, preschool fees in Singapore can range from about $700 to more than $2,000 per month, depending on the type of school and the programme.

The variations in preschool type, affiliation, and other factors affect this range. Here are some general rules on the matter:

Programmes	Parents may choose between half-day and whole-day programmes. If you plan to enroll your child in whole-day programs, expect the fees to be higher.
Government affiliation	Based on our research, preschools with affiliations with the Singapore government tend to be cheaper and larger in size. Most of their fees range from $700 to $1,000 per month.   There are more than 200 government-affiliated preschools on the island, so we’re certain parents wouldn’t have a hard time looking for an option that matches their budget.
Religious affiliation	Preschools with affiliations with religious groups have slightly higher monthly fees, averaging about $1,000 per month.   These types of preschools are operated by various religious institutions and incorporate the values of their religions into their teachings.   Even a fair number of parents who don’t have strict religious leanings tend to go with these preschools because their fees are more affordable compared to private-run preschools. They’re believed to be at the same level with most private preschools too.
Private preschools	Lastly, private preschools charge about $1,000 to $1,800 per month. These are owned and operated by private companies and individuals, so there’s no surprise that their fees are the most expensive.   What’s more, their fees are heftier because of the special programmes offered. These teaching and child-care programmes developed based on their own pedagogies.   In line with that, private preschools can be the perfect option if you want your child to gain a little bit of an edge over other children.

How to Pick the Best Preschools in Singapore

All right, now let’s say money is no object and you just need to pick the best preschool for your child.

When deciding which from the hundreds of preschools in Singapore is right for your child, you have to consider the following factors:

1. Location

If you don’t like the idea of your child riding a bus to and from school, then we recommend picking a preschool near your workplace.

Aside from saving a bit of gas money, you will be able to bond with your little one on the way to school. You can even drop by during lunch break to ask how they’re doing or if they need anything.

2. Curriculum

This is where the type of programme offered by a preschool enters the picture. Most preschools tend to follow a particular educational system, such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia.

Montessori schools are known for being student-centered. Instead of listening to long lectures and sitting on desks for hours on end, students are encouraged to roam around, choose their own activities, and interact with classmates.

They don’t use a one-size-fits-all curriculum too, so students work on tasks that are developmentally appropriate for their age and capacity.

On the other hand, Reggio Emilia schools use a mostly self-guided curriculum. Teachers construct a curriculum based on listening to and observing what sparks the interests of students.

In these types of schools, children are free to use different modes of learning, such as drawing, singing, dancing, and more.

Either way, both Montessori and Reggio Emilia schools give students complete freedom to do what they want, with some guidance from the teacher.

Meanwhile, some preschools use a more personal and flexible approach to learning and playing, so make sure to ask for these before enrolling your child.

3. Language Programme

If you want your child to be familiar with other languages as early as preschool, then make sure to go to a childcare center with bilingual programmes. These programmes can be in English, Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil.

Some preschools offer Mandarin-focused and English-immersion programmes too, which are perfect for parents who want their children to be fluent in either of these languages.

4. School Hours

School hours can be a crucial determining factor too, especially for parents with busy schedules during weekdays.

If you want to personally drop off and pick up your children, then you have to compare your working hours with those of your child’s school. Some preschools work off strict half- or full-day schedules, such as 9am-12pm or 9am-3pm.

Other preschools adapt the daycare approach and offer 12-hour classes, usually lasting from 7am to 7pm. Whole-day classes are recommended to parents who have busy and strict working schedules.

5. Student-teacher Ratio

One of the best indicators of a quality preschool education is a good student-teacher ratio. It refers to the number of teachers or childcare professionals in relation to the number of children per class.

For example, a preschool class with 20 students and two teachers has a student teacher ratio of 10:1. This means that there’s one teacher for every 10 students in a class.

According to the Early Childhood Development Council (ECDA), the ideal teacher student-teacher ratio is one teacher to 20 students.

However, that isn’t always followed by preschools in Singapore. The student-teacher ratio differs significantly from one school to another, so it’s best to consider if you want to enroll your child in a small or big class.

Note that this figure can be flipped too, by the way. Sometimes, it’s called the teacher-student ratio, so it would be 1:10 for our first example, but it means the same thing.

The Best Preschools in Singapore

Now that you know more about preschools in Singapore than before, we’re sure that you’re ready to see our picks!

Check them out below to see which preschool you think works best for you and your little one.

1.   Brighton Montessori

BEST FOR	Multiple branches
WEBSITE	https://www.brightonmontessori.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Montessori
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, nursery, kindergarten, and kindergarten 2
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:6 to 1:14, depending on the class
ADDRESS	456 River Valley Rd, #01-01 Crystal Court, Singapore 248342   764 Mountbatten Rd, Singapore 437764   190 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, #02-01 The Grassroots’ Club, Singapore 568046   41 Sunset Way, Singapore 597071
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6588 3883 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Brighton Montessori is a preschool found in various locations all over the island. It has branches in Mountbatten Road, Ang Mo Kio, Sunset Way, and River Valley Round (which is the newest and largest branch).

It’s one of the most established preschools on the island, boasting more than 25 years of experience. It uses a proven and effective curriculum focused on hands-on, personal teaching that allows children to learn and grow at their own pace.

Currently, it’s offering four programmes: pre-nursery, nursery, kindergarten, and kindergarten two.

What’s more, parents have even repeatedly praised the strong and open communication between them and its teachers. This helps parents be aware of the current progress of their children — and problems, if there are any.

Another thing parents love about Brighton is its low teacher-to student ratio: 1:6 for pre-nursery and 1:14 for kindergarten. This ratio is lower than industry regulations, so students will receive personalised and focused attention from teachers.

Brighton’s meticulously crafted learning environment is designed to encourage children to explore and learn on their own, by placing everything within their reach.

Since it has branches all over the island, it’s easier for parents to enroll their children in a Brighton institution that’s closer to their home or workplace.

Customer Reviews

Parents do recommend Brighton Montessori for being able to have an open communication with the teachers and discuss the daily progress of their children.

Mario and Ana Montanari praised the preschool and shared their experience on the official website:

“The preschool has a good mix of locals and foreigners, which we love. The kids take part in a variety of fun and interactive activities including cooking classes, which allow for the refinement of sensory perception, and the development of literacy and mathematical understanding. There are also many opportunities for imaginative exploration and creative self-expression.”

2.   Blue House International

BEST FOR	Art, music, and dance lessons
WEBSITE	https://www.bluehouseinternational.com/
CURRICULUM	Reggio Emilia
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, nursery, preschool, junior kindergarten, and senior kindergarten
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:5 to 1:9, depending on the class
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	2 Turf Club Road Singapore 287988
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6734 0824
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Blue House International is the perfect preschool for children to develop their artistic and creative sensibilities. It encourages students to enhance their singing, dancing, and drawing skills through multiple art classes.

Its curriculum is based on the Reggio Emilia that allows children to learn through first-hand experiences and excel at their own pace. All children will receive the personalised and focused attention from teachers due to its low teacher-student ratio.

Some of its programmes include music classes, art classes, drama classes, dance classes., and sports lessons all of which are catered to students ages 18 months to six. All of its art classes are taught by professional artists.

Parents also don’t need to worry about spending money on art supplies because everything will be provided by the school.

The schedules of its classes are quite flexible too. Parents can choose between two, three or five mornings per week OR two, three or five whole days per week.

Blue House International also establishes relationships with parents by encouraging them to come over to share knowledge and stories. Coffees are available at The Pantry, which is built by parents for fellow parents.

Outside of regular classes, Blue House International provides drop-in sessions where parents can drop by any day of the day for play sessions with their children. That’s another thing we appreciated about it.

Customer Reviews

The Blue House International has been receiving admiration from parents due to their natural and effective way of teaching. Parents stated that their children are very much exposed to a creative and nature-friendly environment in which they can freely explore their surroundings.

Here’s a comment shared on Facebook by a parent named Hannah Lutton:

“We love Bluehouse! Our daughter joined Bluehouse nursery at the beginning of the year and absolutely loved it. We have just left Singapore (in the last week)and are currently looking for a nursery that is both Emilia Reggio inspired and comes close to our experience at Bluehouse and are really struggling – we have been so spoiled. Anyone who has the opportunity to send their child here is very lucky!”

3.   Mindchamps Preschool

BEST FOR	Modern and child-friendly facilities
WEBSITE	https://www.mindchamps.org/
CURRICULUM	3-Mind Approach
PROGRAMMES	Infant care, preschool, performing arts preschool, and Chinese preschool
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:7 for nursery and 1:11 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	6 Raffles Blvd, #04-100 Marina Square Singapore 039594
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6828 2688
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Mindchamps Preschool provides quality education for children aged 18 months to 6 years old. Parents may enter their children in a normal preschool, performing arts preschool, or even a Chinese preschool.

If most preschools in Singapore use either the Montessori or Reggio Emilia educational system, Mindchamps uses the 3-Mind Approach. Its goal is to keep children curious and open-minded in a constantly changing world.

The 3-Mind Approach is known for promoting individual uniqueness, establishing effective learning strategies, and connecting different perspectives to solve a problem.

Its research-backed curriculum for the preschool programme rests on the four domains of Education, Psychology, Neuroscience and Theatre, so children are encouraged to explore the different modes of learning, not just a singular one.

Its fees for half-day classes are $1,765, while full-day classes cost about $1,965. Its teacher-student ratio is even lower than the recommendation of EDCA, starting at 1:6 for nursery classes.

Before finalising the enrollment, parents and their children are also invited to check out Mindchamps’s facilities and meet its teaching staff. This is a great way to gauge the capacity of your child’s future school.

Customer Reviews

MindChamps Preschool has seen many children through their formative years and prepared them for primary school and life beyond academics.

This has earned the school an abundance of compliments from parents, as Peter Tao shared on the official website:

“During my son’s three fruitful years at MindChamps PreSchool, I witnessed tremendous growth in both his cognitive and social development. He enjoyed his lessons very much and was immensely fond of his teachers, who were uplifting in his education. He would always update and share with me his new discoveries in class, even testing me if I knew them.

In a nutshell, I must say the dedicated teachers at MindChamps had taken great care of my son’s overall well-being. I am extremely pleased with them. Also, my son is coping well in Primary 1 and this is without doubt partly due to the crafted learning programmes – meticulously prepared by MindChamps for him.”

4.   White Lodge International Preschools & Childcare

BEST FOR	International preschool and daycare
WEBSITE	https://www.whitelodge.education/
CURRICULUM	High Scope, Reggio Emilia and Harvard Project Zero
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, preschool prep programme, preschool proper, and kindergarten
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8 for all classes
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Grandeur Park Residences 1 Bedok South Ave 3 Singapore 465461   43 Lor 5 Toa Payoh, Level 1 Singapore 319457   39 Linden Drive Singapore, 288712   South Buona Vista Road Singapore 118141   310 Tanglin Road Singapore 247975
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6255 4230
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

White Lodge International Preschools & Childcare is one of the few international preschools on the island, catering to the children of expats. It first opened in Bukit Timah more than two decades ago but has a total of 10 islandwide branches now.

Its curriculum for the preschool programme includes arts and craft, sensory activities, drama, music and movement, gross and fine motor activities, literacy, numeracy, science, and languages.

As a way to spark the musical and performing talent of its students, White Lodge is heavy on music and drama classes. There’s an annual musical held at the end of each year where students get to showcase their skills through a performance number.

Speaking of its curriculum, White Lodge adopts the principles of High Scope, Reggio Emilia and Harvard Project Zero, so students will be exposed to a broad range of teaching and learning techniques.

Students enrolled in the full-day programmes will get to participate in daily enrichment activities, which features book clubs, fitness activities, and Mandarin classes.

Customer Reviews

White Lodge International Preschools & Childcare has captured the hearts and interests of the parents because of the diversity in education and great facilities.

Mellissa Su-Fen Saw & Bence Szegedi wrote these wonderful compliments on the official website:

“Being a first time mum, I had zero idea of what to look for in a play school for my 18 month old daughter. After a couple of trial classes at various schools, I knew immediately that White Lodge Loewen Gardens was the best choice – and after a couple of weeks, my daughter settled in really well so it was definitely the right choice! The teachers are calm, patient, friendly and dedicated. I’m 100% confident with the care and education that they provide, with a focus on experiencing things through fun and exciting activities. A big thank you to the all the teachers at White Lodge!”

5.   Early Years Montessori

BEST FOR	Inclusive and diverse environment
WEBSITE	https://www.earlyyears.edu.sg/
CURRICULUM	Montessori
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, nursery, Chinese programme, creative programme, outdoor play, and Information Communication, Technologies
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	16 Sunset Dr, Singapore 597475
CONTACT DETAILS	6469-1572 6469-1087 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/earlyyearsmontessori
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Early Years Montessori offers an inclusive and diverse environment that welcomes children from all corners of the world. It embraces families of every race, religious belief, ethnicity, and socio-economic background.

It’s known for using dual languages and teaching children about the different cultures as early as now. It aims to educate children about respecting the cultures of other people, especially in a diverse island such as Singapore.

In terms of its programmes, Early Years Montessori is open to children aged two two-and-a-half to six years old. It’s acknowledged by the Ministry of Education, so parents may apply for childcare subsidies.

Within its classrooms, children are encouraged to care for themselves and work independently before getting introduced to more advanced and complex concepts, allowing them to solve problems on their own.

It recognises the importance of child-family and family-school relationships too, so active participation of parents will be required.

6.   Rain Trees International Kindergarten

BEST FOR	UK-based curriculum
WEBSITE	https://raintreeskindergarten.com/
CURRICULUM	UK Early Years Foundation Stage
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	60 Kheam Hock Rd, Singapore 298824
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6474 6181
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Established in 1999, Rain Trees International Kindergarten is an independent international preschool for children in the age range of 18 months to 6 years old.

Its students are mainly from the international community in Singapore, but its doors are open for everyone. It’s decided to adapt a British-based curriculum in order to meet the demands and needs of the expat community in Asia.

The UK Early Years Foundation Stage focuses on development using a multi-sensory approach, so children will learn through hands-on activities, exploration, and recreational time.

Other learning areas that will be explored are personal and social development, communication, language and literacy, problem solving, numeracy, creative development, and physical development, among others.

Rain Trees also puts an emphasis on creating a learning environment that stimulates independence, discovery, and social interaction. Unlike most preschools, students will split their time learning inside the classroom and playing outdoors.

A typical school day at Rain Trees consists of the following: circle time, group activities, cleaning time, snack break, Mandarin lessons, outside play, library time, and storytelling hour.

Customer Reviews

The parent–teacher conferences conducted by Rain Trees International Kindergarten, earned the trust of many parents for they can see the actual progress of their children as well as the communication between the teachers and students.

Sarah and Alex Vaulkhard shared their story and stated:

“As soon as you join Rain Trees you feel part of the Rain Trees family. It has a small intimate feel and you feel as though your child is a very important part of the school and not just another pupil. My Daughter is currently in Dragonflies with Ms Terisa and seems to be well ahead of her peers attending other nurseries, this seems to have been achieved in a very fun and nurturing environment where they learn through play based activities. We have decided to keep our Daughter at the school for the final year, rather than moving her to a large international school for the nursery year as we have heard fantastic feedback about the Busy Bee year, teacher and class size.”

7.   My First Skool

BEST FOR	Multiple locations islandwide
WEBSITE	https://www.myfirstskool.com/
CURRICULUM	Skool-Educare©, Skool-Ready©, and Skool-aCe©
PROGRAMMES	Infant and childcare, nursery, and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English, Mandarin, and Malay
ADDRESS	229 Mountbatten Road #02-08 Mountbatten Square, Singapore 398007
CONTACT DETAILS	6509 7887  [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

If you’re looking for a preschool close to your workplace, then you might want to check out My First Skool. It has more than 100 locations in Singapore alone, so we’re sure that there’s one close to your office.

As of writing, it has 147 branches islandwide, making it one of the most accessible preschools and childcare centres in Singapore.

To enable all-round development, My First Skool offers specialised programmes that target different skills. These programmes are STEM-based learning, art classes, bilingualism and cultural intelligence, character building, nature learning, and Malay heritage.

Another thing parents love about My First Skool is its carefully engineered classrooms. All  classrooms are built based on the principles of safety, age appropriateness, comfort, autonomy, aesthetics, and even privacy.

For the preschool curriculum, My First Skool uses its own curriculum called Skool-Ready, designed for children aged four to six.  It encourages students to explore their topics of interest, ask questions and investigate further to find answers.

There are also daily thematic lessons that target numeracy and language literacy, offered to both nursery and kindergarten 1 and 2 students.

On top of that, financial assistance is available for low-income parents who want to enroll their children into this preschool. Families with a gross monthly household income of $4,500 and below are qualified

Customer Reviews

Here’s what a parent to say about My First Skool:

“Kudos to the teachers at My First Skool on making learning joyful, fun, and interactive! When I picked up Avril from school today, she excitedly shared with me the anatomy of an ant and how it has three parts – an ant has a head, a thorax, and an abdomen! She told me that her teacher had them draw an ant and colour it, and even made one out of play dough! I can see Avril finding joy in learning everyday in school! Thank you, teachers, for making learning fun for Avril!”

8.   Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Preschool

BEST FOR	Easy registration
WEBSITE	http://www.shhkpreschool.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Plan-Do-Review
PROGRAMMES	Nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	5 Sennett Rd, Singapore 466781
CONTACT DETAILS	(+65) 6589 9503 (+65) 6589 9500 (+65) 6225 7303 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Preschool is formed through the initiative of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, one of the biggest clans on the island. It aims to provide an alternative and unique approach to childhood development.

As such, this preschool uses a unique curriculum that adapts the Plan-Do-Review model, which emphasises active participatory learning and promotes self-reflection.

Under this model, teachers help students by turning their ideas into carefully designed activities that are planned and carried out by the children themselves. This allows children the freedom to construct their own knowledge through interactions.

Aside from regular preschool programmes, SHHK offers a special programme that incorporates life skills education and holistic character development.

All of its classes are taught in English and Chinese, so students will expand their language capabilities as early as preschool age.

Customer Reviews

A safe and fun learning environment is what this preschool promises and people can see that clearly. Here’s what Jeremiah Su had to say about his experience:

“Kids here enjoy the spacious environment through their living skills programme: home simulated room and living garden! They even have an indoor sports hall so be it rain or shine, there is always ample place for children to exercise and enjoy.

Personally witnessed a few international kids who don’t speak Chinese at all start expressing themselves in Chinese after a few months later.  I believe that the Chinese speaking environment really helps to develop children’s interest in picking up the language!”

9.   Kindle Garden

BEST FOR	Inclusive programmes
WEBSITE	https://www.kindlegarden.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Principles of Learning and Teaching
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	20 Lengkok Bahru, #02-05 159053, Singapore
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6511 7660
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Kindle Garden is the first preschool to accept children with special needs and include them in regular classes along with other students.

It uses a holistic educational system that supports diversity by providing a non-discriminatory curriculum for both typically-developing children and children with additional needs.

Kindle Garden believes in the idea that the “environment” is the third teacher, so students will be put in a classroom that’s designed to encourage and support individual learning.

For example, its classrooms use both incandescent and natural lighting to minimise the distraction of children. They’re also spacious and open enough to dilute outside and inside noise.

On top of that, classrooms feature non-traditional furniture pieces to reduce possible distractions during class hours.

Through Kindle Garden’s inclusive education, students are  expected to become more confident, socially and academically competent, and develop more connections with classmates.

10.  MerlionKids

BEST FOR	Internationally recognised pedagogies
WEBSITE	http://www.merlionkids.com/
CURRICULUM	Neuroscience Developmental Curriculum Framework
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	38 Poh Huat Crescent, Singapore 546871
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6288 1838 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

MerlionKids is known for using the cognitive neuroscience curriculum, which rests on the idea that children learn through their experiences and environment during the sensitive period of their brain development.

Its use of a curriculum that combines research-based and scientific data is what ultimately sets it apart from other preschools in Singapore.

In line with that, most of its activities are explanatory and experiential-based. These types of activities promote the development of the brain’s cognitive executive functions, including multiple intelligences and cognitive neuroscience fundamentals.

We recommend enrolling your little into a class here in MerlionKids if you want them to grow up with a penchant for science subjects. It’s among the few preschools on the island that introduce students to a whole range of scientific experiments.

11.  Brainy Child Montessori

BEST FOR	Weekend classes
WEBSITE	https://www.brainychildmontessori.sg/
CURRICULUM	Montessori
PROGRAMMES	Preschool, brain training programmes, language programmes, enrichment programmes, and holiday programmes
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:9 on most classes
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	150 Orchard Road, Orchard Plaza #05-38 to 43, Singapore 238841 (Beside Centrepoint OG)
CONTACT DETAILS	(+65) 6733 7669 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday – Sunday: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Brainy Child Montessori is an international preschool that offers specialised programmes to children aged 18 months to seven years old. It’s one of the few preschools in Singapore with weekend classes.

Its preschool classes cover practical lessons, sensorial activities, language awareness, math activities, art and cultural lessons, and music and movement training.

Aside from the regular preschool classes, Brainy Child Montessori has multiple other programmes, such as brain training, language classes, enrichment classes, and holiday classes.

What’s great about its weekend classes is that students who missed a class during the weekdays can attend in order to catch up. These weekend classes usually consist of phonics, language, and math discussions.

For parents who want to improve the cognitive skills of their children, we recommend enrolling them into the brain training programmes. It’s an 80-hour programme that aims to sharpen a child’s IQ.

Brainy Child Montessori’s holiday programmes, on the other hand, are for children who want to prepare for the upcoming school year. These are different from the normal academic classes.

12.  Swallows & Amazons

BEST FOR	Nature-filled campus
WEBSITE	https://www.swallowsandamazons.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Gardner’s 8 Intelligences
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:6 for nursery and 1:8 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	The Grandstand, South Carpark 200 Turf Club Road Singapore 287994
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6762 8158
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Swallows & Amazons is a preschool that accepts children aged 18 months to six years old, offering pre-nursery to kindergarten 2 classes. Unlike most preschools, it uses 8-intelligence learning style as it believes children learn and excel in different ways.

It’s located at Grandstand in Bukit Timah, which is an area filled with large, full-grown trees and lush green bushes, so children will be close to nature while learning and playing.

Due to its low teacher-student ratio, its teachers are able to modify their approach based on the specific needs and learning capacity of a student. The ratio is 1:6 for nursery classes and 1:8 for kindergarten programmes

Its classrooms are referred to as “learning centres” – and these rooms are designed to allow children to learn in different ways and excel in different areas.

On top of these, these learning centres are specifically developed to address the different fields of intelligence according to Howard Gardner. Those fields are Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Musical, Bodily Kinesthetic, Spatial, Naturalist, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal.

Aside from learning inside the classroom, students will get to learn and play outside too. Swallows & Amazons offers different extra-curricular activities such as soccer, storytelling yoga, gymnasium games, swimming, and other physical activities.

Customer Reviews

Zara Linehan, whose child has been with Swallows & Amazon for a little over a year now, said the following:

“Every teacher knows every child. It’s not chaotic, it’s a really calm environment. When my daughter first moved to Singapore, she was quite introverted and shy, but just in here, she is really kind of blossomed and came out of her shell and her confidence has really come along in leaps and bounds. It’s really nice to see.”

Here’s what another parent had to say about this preschool:

“The communication is above anything I would have expected from what little emails tell me. There were snippets of what my daughter said during the day, what she has drawn and what kind of story she has relayed from her weekend back to school at constant communication. And everyday she returns home singing the teacher’s praises and we couldn’t be happier.”

13.  Mulberry Learning

BEST FOR	Internationally recognized teaching strategies
WEBSITE	https://mulberrylearning.com/
CURRICULUM	Reggio Emilia
PROGRAMMES	Infant care, preschool, and Chinese preschool
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8 for nursery and 1:12 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Multiple locations islandwide. Click here to know if there’s branch near you
CONTACT DETAILS	(65) 6653 8082 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Established in 2006, Mulberry Learning is an internationally recognised preschool that offers half-day and whole-day infant care, regular preschool, and Chinese preschool to children aged 18 months to 6 years old.

Its preschool programmes are divided into five levels: pre-nursery, nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2. All classes are kept small to enable teachers to focus on the specific needs of each student.

For nursery classes, there’s one teacher to every eight students. On the other hand, there’s one teacher for every 12 students for the kindergarten classes.

Speaking of teachers, Mulberry Learning’s educators undergo an intensive 250-hour training before handling any class. This is to ensure all students are guided and nurtured by qualified and dedicated individuals.

All programmes are taught in both English and Mandarin, so parents who want their children to grow up bilingual will definitely like this one.

On top of that, Mulberry has branches scattered all over the island, so there might be one near where you’re working.

Customer Reviews

Here’s what parent had to say about his son’s experience with Mulberry Learning:

”Very impressed, my son started going here when he was just 4 months and his teachers are the best. I couldn’t thank them enough for the great job they do. All the staff is just exceptional and the headmistress is a very trustworthy person.  I was so scared and feeling guilty when I decided to put him in a daycare, but now I don’t regret it because he learns things and meets other kids which is perfect for his development.”

-Narjis Zekhnini

14.  The Odyssey

BEST FOR	International curriculums and programmes
WEBSITE	https://theodyssey.sg/
CURRICULUM	Reggio Emilia
PROGRAMMES	Preschool, preparatory class, IB programme, and Chinese-immersion programme
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	20 Fourth Avenue, 268669 101 Wilkinson Road, 436559 191 Jalan Loyang Besar, 506996 25 Still Road South, 423934 50A Lloyd Road, 239128
CONTACT DETAILS	6501 7500 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The Odyssey is a Singapore-based preschool inspired by the innovative global teaching pedagogies from schools in the US, UK, and Italy. It offers students an award-winning curriculum inside a fully-equipped Reggio Emilia-inspired campus.

Its programmes are open to students within the age range of 18 months to 6 years old. Aside from the regular preschool classes, it has an IB programme that aims to develop the EQ and IQ skills of children.

A Chinese-immersion programme is also available for parents who want their children to learn everything about the Chinese culture as early as now. There’s a designed teacher in each class who talks to students in the native Chinese language.

Its facilities, on the other hand, are considered world class by most parents. For example, its branch in Loyang comes with an art room, music studio, museum, pizza, outdoor playground, and a child-friendly kitchen.

When it comes to campuses, The Odyssey doesn’t fall short, literally. It has a total of five locations scattered all over the island, so finding a branch with a convenient location shouldn’t be that hard.

It’s a preschool that promotes a culture of collaboration, so parents will be an active participant in the growth of their children’s knowledge outside of the classroom.

However, The Odyssey has some of the priciest programmes in Singapore, typically starting at $2,000.

Customer Reviews

The Odyssey has proven to be a great help in developing the interests of a child during the early stages. Gerry expressed these thoughts about his son’s improvement after attending the academy:

“Gideon wears a big smile on his face when he reaches the Odyssey every morning. When he first joined the Tots Explorers 6 months ago, he was shy, wary of strangers and suffered from separation anxiety. Gideoon has since transformed into a confident, independent and cheery boy, who loves singing the songs learnt in school! We credit this amazing transformation to the very warm, nurturing and experienced Tots teachers Gideon is so blessed to have. The Tots team has cared for and taught Gideon very well, while keeping us continually updated on his development and milestones. Thank you Tots team!”

15. Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse

BEST FOR	Inquiry-based learning
WEBSITE	https://theodyssey.sg/
CURRICULUM	Constructivism, ecological systems theory and neuroscience
PROGRAMMES	Childcare and infant care
LANGUAGES	English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean
ADDRESS	420 Clemenceau Ave N, #01-02, Singapore 229492
CONTACT DETAILS	[email protected] +65 6463 3465
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse is a bit different from most of our picks because it doesn’t actually have preschool programmes. Instead, what it offers are childcare and infant care programmes for children aged four and below.

It’s a school that adopts an inquiry-based approach, so children will be asked about what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. Its curriculum is based on the principles of constructivism, ecological systems theory and neuroscience.

What happens under this curriculum is that children learn through the process of inquiry, hands-on experience, and interaction with friends and families.

As such, the classes at Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse revolve around asking questions, telling stories, working with classmates, and of course, playing outside.

More than that, all classes are taught in a bilingual setting, so children are expected to learn another language. English, Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese are among the languages used in class.

Customer Reviews

Here are some comments shared by parents on Google Reviews:

“We are really happy with Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse @Newton. When you go there, you can breathe peace and immense love for children. The most important thing to me is that I can see my son very happy to go there. He is learning a lot based on a play approach learning and he is starting to be autonomous in his day-to-day activities.”

-Leticia Carmen

“Ava is truly grateful and thankful to Ms Samantha for all the patience and guidance given to her. Ava adapted to school much faster than we ever expected and the teachers, especially Ms Samantha, together with all the staff at Kiddiwinkie Newton played a significant role in that. We really appreciate all the care and attention given.

Ava prefers going to school than staying home these days!”

-Arif Anwar

16.  Little Readers Programme

BEST FOR	English and reading classes
WEBSITE	https://www.littlereaderssg.com/
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, phonics and literacy, creative writing and reading comprehension, preparatory course, and English enrichment
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	Near Hougang Mall, Hougang MRT & Bus Interchange   Near Waterway Point, Punggol MRT & Bus Interchange   Near West Mall, Bt. Batok MRT & Bus Interchange
CONTACT DETAILS	81385397 97279130
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Little Readers Programme is the most recommended preschool in Singapore for parents who want their children to learn and write as early as now. It’s among the few learning centres that specialise in phonics and reading literacy.

Other classes offered include pre-nursery, playgroups, creative writing, reading comprehension, preparatory courses, and English enrichment. These classes are open to all children aged four to seven years old.

Most of their programmes are taught online, which works for stay-at-home parents who want to monitor their children at all times. However, physical classes are available at the Punggol, Houngang, and Bukit Batok branches.

Teachers won’t have a hard time tracking the progress of every student given that classes only have three to eight students. If time permits, there will be a one-on-one session between each student and teacher.

17.  Emile Preschool

BEST FOR	Scientific-based education
WEBSITE	http://emilepreschool.com/
PROGRAMMES	Playgroup, nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	#01-02, 12 New Industrial Road, Singapore, 536202
CONTACT DETAILS	(65) 6584-3668 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Founded by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Emile Preschool is known for using a scientific-based curriculum and research-proven learning materials from the US, UK, Germany, and Japan.

With the help of effective teaching strategies and materials, its programmes are able to foster the students’ varying intelligence in the following areas: language and literacy, mathematics, science, social understanding, collaboration, and even self-understanding.

Emile Preschool’s list of programmes include playgroups, nursery 1 and 2, and kindergarten 1 and 2. These programmes are open to children within the age range of 18 months to seven years old.

Other learning areas included in its curriculum are speech and drama, arts and crafts, gymnastics, music and movements, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), among others.

Parents don’t need to worry about packed lunches because organic and healthy meals will be provided to students, all approved by a professional nutritionist.

Since it uses a bilingual curriculum, all students will be taught how to speak, write, and read in English and Mandarin.

18.   Jurong Calvary Kindergarten

BEST FOR	Spiritual and emotional intelligence
WEBSITE	https://www.jurongcalvarykindergarten.com/
PROGRAMMES	Pre-nursery, nursery, kindergarten 1, kindergarten, and optional enrichment classes
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8 for nursery and 1:13 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Jurong Calvary Kindergarten, 1 Tao Ching Rd, Singapore 618720
CONTACT DETAILS	6265 6193 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Established in 1973, Jurong Calvary Kindergarten is an outreach preschool of  the Calvary-Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore. It offers pre-nursery, nursery, and kindergarten 1 to 2 to children aged three to six years old.

Since it’s a preschool linked to a well-known religious group, Jurong Calvary Kindergarten aims to strengthen not only the academic capacity of children, but their spiritual and emotional intelligence as well.

Its current curriculum educates young minds about a whole range of topics, such as English and Chinese language, mathematics, music and movement, character building, and motor skills development.

Classes are divided between two sessions. The morning session starts at 8:15 and ends at 11: 15, while the second session commences at 11:30 and wraps up by 2:30 in the afternoon.

Aside from regular preschool classes, it offers optional enrichment programmes such as gymnastics, robotics, art programmes, speech and drama development, and Mandarin-Chinese language classes.

Customer Reviews

Parents of previous and current students of Jurong Calvary Kindergarten are happy with the learning experience of their children and are happy to recommend them to other parents. Here are some of the comments of the parents:

“JCK adequately prepared Shannyn for primary school with three well-structured, amazing years of learning journey, from outdoor excursions to planned curriculum – show & tell, spelling, journal writing and activity books’ learning. From a shy, timid little girl who needed cradling for weeks upon enrolment to a female lead ‘Miriam’ during the graduation concert, JCK teachers had groomed her to become a confident, well-rounded girl who excelled in her studies. The strong foundation that was laid in JCK saw her clinching top three positions in class in lower primary and getting into one of the best classes in Rulang. I would strongly recommend JCK as the preferred choice.”

–Mummy of Shannyn Ng (2015)

“JCK has helped our daughter to grow strong and confident. We are especially delighted with the way the teachers motivate children to maintain interest in learning, as there is nothing more delightful than having a child who loves to learn and comes home to talk about it.”

– Mummy of Elisha and Joann Cheung (2016 & current)

“JCK is always a kindergarten that I will highly recommend to my family and friends. Both my kids are developing very well and they love the school and the teachers. The teachers are very patient and passionate about their role which makes me feel assured that my children are in good hands.”

– Mummy of Mandy and Mavis Woo (2017 & current)

19.  Arise Kindergarten

BEST FOR	Large childcare and teaching staff
WEBSITE	https://arisepreschool.sg/
PROGRAMMES	Playgroups, nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and  kindergarten 2
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8 for nursery and 1:13 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	2-B Hindhede Road, Singapore 589240
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6462 2972 +65 9821 9347 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Arise Preschool has been providing quality preschool education to toddlers and children for more than 18 years now. It’s solely owned the Church of Singapore and is registered with the Ministry of Education.

One of its priorities as a preschool is the safety of every student and staff, so parents can make sure that their children are safe at all times while they’re away working.

In terms of location, we can say that no other school has it better than Arise Preschool. It’s right at the doorstep of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, so students will get to explore nature as part of the curriculum.

The teacher-student ratio for its classes is kept small to make sure that the progress of each student will be monitored. For the nursery class, there’s one teacher to every eight students, while the ratio for the kindergarten classes is 1:13.

On top of that, families may apply for subsidy when enrolling their children because it’s an EDCA-recognised preschool.

20.  La Petite Ecole

BEST FOR	Multilingual classes
WEBSITE	http://lapetiteecole.asia/sg/en/
CURRICULUM	French national curriculum
PROGRAMMES	Playgroups and preschool
LANGUAGES	English, French, Chinese, and more
ADDRESS	Turf Club Road #01-13, Singapore S287988
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 8722 2770 +65 6464 5134 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM

La Petite Ecole is a bilingual French and English preschool that’s open to students of all nationalities. It prides itself on being a multicultural preschool, where all languages and cultures are accepted.

It’s the perfect option for French expats in Singapore who want to send their children to a school similar to a preschool in France. Why? Because it follows the French national curriculum.

All of its teachers are native French and English speakers too, so children will learn these languages from actual speakers. Mandarin courses are available for nursery and kinderstand students as well.

Since it follows the French national curriculum, all programmes will focus on the following learning areas: language mastery, self-expression through physical and creative activities, organisation of thoughts, and world exploration.

21.  Pat’s Schoolhouse

BEST FOR	Accessible branches
WEBSITE	https://patschoolhouse.com/
CURRICULUM	Bilingual Immersion Core Curriculum
PROGRAMMES	Playgroups and preschool
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	26 Still Rd S, Singapore 4239358   110 Alexandra Rd, Singapore 159921   19 Aroozoo Ave, Singapore 539830   30 Prinsep Street, #04-01 and #05-01, Income @ Prinsep, Singapore 188647
CONTACT DETAILS	+65-6781-2288
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Pat’s Schoolhouse is known as the pioneer of Bilingual Immersion Core Curriculum in Singapore. It’s the curriculum followed by most preschools today, which aims to teach children two languages as early as preschool.

In a single class, there are two co-teachers of English and Mandarin. Both teachers co-create to incorporate themes, subjects, and concepts fitting for a bilingual environment. For every teacher, there are seven to eight students.

Aside from the bilingual approach, Pat’s Schoolhouse also uses another approach called Inquiry-Embedded Play, which promotes curiosity, creativity and confidence.

Playing is also central to this approach, so students will spend half the class having fun with classmates.

Students will be exposed to music via songs, stories, games, movement and instruments by its in-house music specialists as well.

As of writing, it has about 15 preschools and two infant care centres throughout Singapore, so parents shouldn’t struggle looking for a branch near their office.

22.   Josiah Montessori

BEST FOR	Holistic learning
WEBSITE	http://josiah.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Montessori and Reggio Emilia
PROGRAMMES	Infant care, pre-nursery, nursery, kindergarten, and pre-primary
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	3 Temasek Boulevard #01-618 to 620, Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 63366906 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

For parents looking for a preschool that allows children to learn and grow at their own pace, we recommend checking out Josiah Montessori. It promotes freedom and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical and social development.

Josiah Montessori’s programmes include infant care, pre-nursery, nursery, kindergarten, and pre-primary classes. All these are designed to help the physical, mental, and emotional growth of children aged 18 months to six years old.

Apart from academic learning, students are encouraged to discover and explore their musical talents through extensive drama and art classes.

In terms of facilities, its classrooms are designed to meet the developmental needs of students inside a safe and engaging environment. All items found inside the classrooms are scaled to child’s size, including furniture, shelves, utensils, and even dishware.

It’s located at the heart of Singapore’s business district, where most corporate offices are, making it easier for parents to drop off and pick their children before and after office houses.

Customer Reviews

Here are a few words left by a parent about Josiah Montessori:

“We have enrolled our son into Josiah Suntec’s full day infant care which provides amazing programs, and strategic location for parents working in the CBD area. They have a nice teacher-child ratio, granting ample time and attention to each child.

With the trial program, Josiah provides more insights to their teaching process and care practice, allowing parents to meet their child’s educators/teachers, who have remarkable interpersonal and multilingual skills.

Thanks to the Josiah program, my son Matthew obtained speedy progress and an amazing Montessori experience, with dedicated teachers who attentively observe and provide regular feedback. We have greatly benefited from these feedbacks as they have helped us to focus on areas of development that are specific for Matthew’s needs.”

23.  Ascension Kindergarten

BEST FOR	Easy and fast registration
WEBSITE	http://www.akg.edu.sg/
CURRICULUM	Montessori
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8 for nursery and 1:12 for kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	11 Francis Thomas Dr, Singapore 359338
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6382 1110
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Ascension Kindergarten has grown into one of the most trusted learning institutions for nursery and kindergarten in Singapore over the last 50 years. It focuses not only on developing children’s cognitive skills, but their physical and socio-emotional capacity as well.

Its programmes are divided into four categories: nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2.

The curriculum for the nursery 1 programme stresses on a student’s self-help skills, physical and socio-emotional development. A single class includes sensory art classes, science experiments, and gymnasium time.

Nursery 2, on the other hand, will be about developing skills in different areas such as language, literacy, numeracy, and spatial concepts, among others. Students will get to act in a musical play, paint whatever they want, and play with pebbles.

Reflection, creativity, collaboration, and self-responsibility are among the focuses of the kindergarten programmes. This is where students will learn the importance of reusing and recycling for the environment.

Pros

• Small class size
• Spacious and conducive classrooms
• Friendly and approachable teachers

Cons

• Short class hours

24.   Tots and Teddies

BEST FOR	Subsidised programmes
WEBSITE	https://tots-and-teddies.com/
CURRICULUM	Montessori
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	62 Cecil Street, #04-00 TPI Building, Singapore 049710
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6816 0001 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

As an award-winning preschool, Tots & Teddies offers the highest quality of education and care for the kids entrusted to them. Its programmes are open to children within the age range of three months to seven years old.

Tots & Teddies uses a specialised teaching approach and bilingual inquiry-based curriculum, so students will learn in a way that’s never been used in other preschools in Singapore.

What’s great about this preschool is despite the above-average programmes rates, low-income parents may apply for subsidies. Its fees already include everything that a student needs in order to learn, such as books, field trips, high-quality food, and more.

When it comes to its staff, its teachers and childcare experts are known for being dedicated towards helping every student achieve their self-established goals.

In terms of location, it’s quite easy to find and go to. It’s located in Singapore’s Central Business District, a few minutes away from the Raffles Place MRT stations.

Customer Reviews

Here is a review left by a very satisfied parent:

“Time flies! My little one has been with Tots & Teddies for 11 months. Well -paced learning in a calm and clean environment, wonderful teachers with great passion, patience and caring towards her. So comfortable that she always looks forward to going to school!”

 –Yvon Koh

25.  Little Paddington Preschool

BEST FOR	Project-based learning
WEBSITE	http://littlepaddington.com/
CURRICULUM	Social Emotional Development, Language Arts, Mathematics, Creative Development, and Science
PROGRAMMES	Playgroup, nursery, and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	East Coast – 26A Jalan Ulu Siglap Road (457184)   Bukit Timah – 236 Turf Club Road (287985)   Tanglin Road – 314 Tanglin Road, 01 -17 Phoenix Park (247977)   Kovan – 236 Turf Club Road (287985)
CONTACT DETAILS	[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Little Paddington Preschool allows children to learn through different projects and activities made on their own. If you have a child who loves messing with things, then you might want to enroll them here.

Its curriculum is based on internationally acclaimed practices, specifically designed to widen a child’s intellectual, mental, and emotional capacity. It incorporates activities and assignments that prepare children for the change of teaching styles in primary school.

On the other hand, its programmes are carefully designed by in-house specialists who make sure that everything is aligned with the Singapore Kindergarten Curriculum Framework (SKCF). These are offered to children aged two months to six years old.

Some of the core learning areas of its curriculum are language arts, numeracy, science and technology, creative arts, and motor skills and physical development, among others.

There’s also a Mandarin programme open for children who want to become bilingual as early as preschool. Here, they will learn how to speak, write, read, and converse in Mandarin.

Customer Reviews

Here are some feedback from parents posted on its website:

“We are happy to place our daughter in Little Paddington where she has learnt a lot and mind opening by a group of passionate teachers. It is a place where she loves to go every day, have fun and gain friendship with her schoolmates. The school environment is very nice, vibrant and safe. Thus we can have a peaceful mind at work. Thank you to Little Paddington :)”

“My son Nikhil, has been attending the school since he was 1 year old. Now he is 5. I am a happy and grateful mum, knowing my child is growing and learning well in this stimulating and safe environment. The teachers are a wonderful group of educators who are truly dedicated and caring. The syllabus introduced to the kids, not only meets the high standards of our local education system but blends in a vast variety of international cultures. This prepares them one day should ‘life’s journey’ take them around the world away from home. I am sure, should you choose this school for your child, you and your child will be happy.”

26.               Genesis Childcare

BEST FOR	Conducive and comfortable learning environment
WEBSITE	https://www.genesisgroup.sg/
PROGRAMMES	Nursery and kindergarten
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Blk 153 Yung Ho Road #01-41 Singapore 61015   Tampines Street 43, #01-63 Block 433, Singapore 520433
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 9666 4141 ​[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Founded more than three decades ago, Genesis Childcare is one of the most well-known preschools on the island. It has educated and nurtured more than 3,000 young students in Singapore as of today.

Genesis Childcare is also famous for its dedicated and enthusiastic team of educators and childcare professionals. Almost all parents have nothing but praise for its teaching staff, and even for its maintenance staff.

It developed its own curriculum that provides nursery and kindergarten students a one-of-a-kind bilingual learning experience. It utilises a thematic approach, so all activities and lessons will center around a particular theme.

Its Chinese curriculum, on the other hand, is supported by the Kong Zi Xue Yuan Chinese Teaching Program. All students under its Chinese programme are given a full-set of books, lessons plans, and other learning materials.

Customer Reviews

Here are some testimonials by shared by satisfied parents:

Firstly, I would like to thank the teachers and appreciate their efforts in taking care of my child with love and care. At first, I was worried about my daughter, wondering if she might have communication issues. The way she reacted was very slow. Within a few weeks, I realised that she showed a lot of improvement in her communication. She also started socialising with the people she saw, bonded with the children in her child care and talked to her teacher individually at times. She could also do things independently. Once again, I really appreciate all of these efforts and hard work that the teachers had shown. Nevertheless, I would like to see more of her improvements in future.

“I want to thank the infant care for the love, care and protection they had for Kailey when she was there. Kailey has grown hitting milestones and everyday when I pick her up during her infant days, there were no issues. This place is where they call it home too… where they are nurtured, cared for and where they grow up. The teachers have done a wonderful job in the infant care and  I am so happy I made the choice to put Kailey in their care. Thank you to all the teachers in the Infant Care. You are like mothers to the rest of the kids and by God’s grace you teachers have come as a blessing. Each and everyone of you is God’s blessing. It is a very special calling to be a teacher to kids regardless of their age.”

27.  Little Greenhouse

BEST FOR	Literacy programme
WEBSITE	https://littlegreenhouse.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Monasterri
PROGRAMMES	Nursery, kindergarten, and Chinese preschool
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Blk 373 Bukit Batok Street 31, #03-244 Singapore 650373   27/27A, Hougang Ave 1, Singapore 538875
CONTACT DETAILS	6653 7146   6653 7146
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

If you’re looking for the best preschool in Singapore that can teach your child how to read, then look no further than Little Greenhouse. It’s been voted as the preschool with the best literacy programme on the island for more than four years now.

The goal of its LITERACY SMART™ programme is to teach children how to read through word games, storytelling sessions, book sharing, and book reviews.

Little Greenhouse houses a dedicated team of experienced professional preschool teachers who can bring out every child’s full intellectual, social, and physical potential.

These educators, with the help of the students’ parents, aim to teach children the basics of language and numbers, to become confident in expressing themselves, and develop a sense of awareness about their own country and community.

Apart from its in-demand literacy programme, Little Greenhouse offers infant care, playgroups, nursery 1 and 2, and kindergarten 1 and 2. These are open to children within the age group of two months to six years old.

It has multiple locations scattered all over Singapore too, so parents can choose the branch that’s closest to their working place.

28.  Alphabet Playhouse

BEST FOR	Engaging and interactive programmes
WEBSITE	https://www.alphabetplayhouse.com.sg/
CURRICULUM	Monasterri
PROGRAMMES	Creative expression, language and literacy, and motor skills development
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:10
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	Somerset 16 Dublin Road Singapore 239805   East Coast 440A Upper East Coast Road Singapore 466497
CONTACT DETAILS	6653 5618 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Established 20 years old, Alphabet Playhouse is known for its unique, adventurous take on preschool education which is geared towards nurturing the hidden talent of young childrens. It offers three types of programmes catered to children aged 18 months to six years old.

Its programmes are divided into three categories, targeting different learning areas: creative expression, language and literacy, and motor skills development. This makes it easier for parents to choose which class their child would love the best.

For example, if you have a child who loves picking up and messaging with crayons, then we’re sure he’d fit right into the creative expression programme.

If your kid loves running around and playing with his sibling, then you might want to enroll him into the motor skills development programme. This is where he’ll do a wide range of physical activities and sports.

When it comes to facilities, Alphabet Playhouse surely doesn’t disappoint. It has an enormous outdoor arena and attractively-furnished indoor spaces where children can play all sorts of games with their classmates.

Parents who enroll their child in Alphabet Playhouse are entitled to a $300 voucher, which is a huge discount considering that preschool fees are never cheap.

Customer Reviews

Here’s what parents had to say about their experience with Alphabet Playhouse:

“Rose Joined Alphabet Playhouse in the Toddler class in September 2014. The teachers and principal were brilliant at helping her to settle in and were very caring. Rose adores going to school, she has lots of fun, enjoys singing and dancing and playing with her friends. She has learnt a lot and is now very good at Chinese. She absolutely loves her teachers (especially Miss Fe & Principal Sharon) and thoroughly enjoys going to school.”

“I just wanted to say a very big thank you for taking such good care of Arya and Ryder throughout their journey in Alphabet Playhouse at East Coast! It has been an amazing journey for the kids and we really appreciate all the hard work and effort you have put in, in ensuring they thrive in their education! Please extend our gratitude to all the other teachers and also to Ms Chrissie for getting Arya a gift yesterday. We wish you and Alphabet Playhouse all the very best and please do stay in touch!”

29.  Sunflower Baby House & Preschool

BEST FOR	Emergency childcare services
WEBSITE	https://www.sunflowerbabyhouse.com/
PROGRAMMES	Infant care and preschool
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8
LANGUAGES	English and Chinese
ADDRESS	200 Turf Club Rd, 04-01 & 07/08, Singapore 287994
CONTACT DETAILS	+65 6463 1303 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Sunflower Baby House & Preschool believes that every child is unique, so its programmes are designed to address the different capacities of its students. It’s open to children within the age group of two months to seven years old.

It employs a staff of professional educators and childcare practitioners who are not only experts in childhood education, but first-aid as well. All of its programmes are geared towards providing a safe, nurturing, and comfortable learning environment.

Through its developmental curriculum, children will learn about creative arts and music, get to conduct their own experiments, learn another language, develop logical thinking, and be acquainted with the beauty of outdoors.

Parents who urgently need someone to look after their children may ask help from its staff. In fact, it’s one of the few preschools in Singapore that provide emergency childcare services.

Customer Reviews

Take a look at some of the comments shared by parents of previous students:

“When my daughter was 4 months old I returned to part time work and confidently left her in the care of Angela and the team at Sunflower Baby House & Preschool. Over the past 15 months I have been impressed with Sunflower Baby House & Preschool’s commitment to providing high quality child care, their fun approach to learning and wonderful teachers. Lily loves her teachers, her little friends and the huge variety of activities that are offered. I enjoy hearing about Lily’s day from her teachers when I collect her, and this also helps ensure a smooth transition back to her routine at home. I would highly recommend Sunflower Baby House & Preschool to anyone considering childcare in Singapore.”

-Jo Bigham

“Sam loves Sunflower Baby House & Preschool – and if Sam is happy, we are happy! When we drop off Sam in the morning, we always leave watching him having a big hello cuddle from one of his teachers – it is wonderful to see him being doted on. We feel very lucky to have such kind and gentle people looking after our precious little boy – and we’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone at Sunflower Baby House & Preschool for taking such good care of little Sam.”

-Scott & Jenny Collison

30.  Wharton Preschool

BEST FOR	Customised learning for each student
WEBSITE	https://www.whartonpreschool.com/
CURRICULUM	Montessori, Bilingual Headstart, and Higher Chinese
PROGRAMMES	Playgroup, nursery 1, nursery 2, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO	1:8
LANGUAGES	English and Mandarin
ADDRESS	15 Serangoon North Ave 5, #04-00 Popular Building, Singapore 554360   791A Upper East Coast Road Singapore 466601
CONTACT DETAILS	6755 3218 6636 3218 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Wharton Preschool offers an immersive bilingual preschool programme to children aged 18 months to six years old. All students will be taught how to interact using the English and Manadarin language, guided by teachers who are native speakers.

It’s a preschool that aims to create a conducive learning environment that nurtures resilience, confidence, compassion, and of course, social integration.

Students will experience all types of learning spaces there are, including laboratories, music rooms, multimedia rooms, and indoor play areas, among others.

Wharton Preschool also knows that the transition to primary school can be a difficult one, so it made sure that its curriculum prepares every student to adapt to Singapore’s intense education system ahead of time.

Speaking of curriculum, it adopts various Montessori methods that focus on experiential learning. This means that students will be given their own time to explore all forms of educational tasks designed to develop a certain set of skills.

All students have the freedom to choose activities that catch their interests, so everything that they will learn will be based on their own experience and nothing else.

Lastly, enrichment activities are offered to students who want to explore other hobbies and activities. These activities usually include yoga, painting, gardening, sports, singing, acting, and everything in between.

FAQs about Preschools

Age (Group type)	Staff to Children Ratio
18 – 30 months  (Playgroup)	1 : 8
30 – 36 months (Nursery 1)	1 : 12
36 – 48 months (Nursery 2)	1 : 15
48 – 84 months (Kindergarten 1 and 2)	1 : 20 (Kindergarten 1) 1 : 25 (Kindergarten 2)

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And with that, we conclude our megalist of the best preschools in Singapore. If you’ve been to any of these schools before, share with us your experience with them!

If you also know other preschools in Singapore worth checking out, don’t hesitate to drop their names, so we can check if they’re qualified enough to include in our list.

For more options, you might want to take a look at our picks for the best international schools in Singapore. Like this one, we’re featuring only the top and trusted schools on that list

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