Top Childcare Centres in Singapore

If you’re a parent in Singapore, finding the right childcare centre for your child can be a daunting task.

With so many options available, it can be hard to know where to start.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top childcare centres in Singapore, to help you make an informed decision about your child’s care.

In this guide, we’ll be sharing information about each of the top childcare centres, including their facilities, programs, and fees. We understand that every family’s needs are different, so we’ve included a range of options to suit different budgets and preferences.

Whether you’re looking for a centre with a strong academic focus, a bilingual environment, or one that provides ample opportunities for outdoor play, we’ve got you covered.

So, let’s dive in and explore the top childcare centres in Singapore!

Parents, we hear you.

It’s one colossal task to balance out your career and family goals at the same time.

While the responsibility of bringing up your kids is on you, childcare centres can work hand-in-hand with you to give your little angels a fulfilling childhood.

The first 7 years are the most crucial to a person’s development   

“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” – Aristotle

According to research from Harvard, the initial years of your kid’s lives (basically everyone’s as well) is where his/her brain develops rapidly. In the first year, the cerebellum will cause a child’s brain to double in size.

Over the next few years, parts of the brain, such as the limbic structure and visual cortex, will contribute more than 1 million neural connections each second! In simple terms, whatever your child is exposed to now will contribute to his/her long term memory!

Hence, it’s vital to give your child the best growing up environment he/she needs. I’m sure you want to see them blossom into happy adults who can live their fullest potential, don’t you?

A childcare centre provides the necessary setting for your kids to develop their physical, emotional, intellectual and social capacity.

Tips for choosing the right childcare centre 

If you’re reading up to here, you’re probably very interested in jumping right in to sign your kids up at a childcare centre.

Here are some considerations that you may need to factor in your childcare centre quest.

Licenses  

I’ll start with the most vital, but pretty apparent criteria; the childcare centre must have an existing childcare license from the regulatory authority, Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).

The tenure of the license is also a crucial factor. Check with ECDA to find out whether the childcare centre is issued with a 6-months, 12-months or a 2-years license. The latter license is only rewarded to centres which have fulfilled the safety requirements and regulations. A 6 or 12-months licensed centre is either newly opened or needs improvement before being awarded the coveted 2-years license.

If you need extra peace of mind, find out if the centre has a SPARK (Singapore Pre-School Accreditation Framework) accreditation. This certification is an endorsement of the school’s programme quality.

Select a centre that has a similar philosophy to your family’s values

It would be ideal for your kid to grow up with the principles you wish to pass onto them. This can save you lots of energy and effort to teach them over again after an exhausting day of work.

Your “teaching” time can be an opportunity to bond and have fun with them instead.

Most importantly, you’ll be pleased to see them carrying on your family’s code of conduct proudly.

If your family is religious, there are also several religious-based childcare centres for your kids.

Don’t just look at their mission statement. Call or walk-in to ask them:

• How does the school handle bullying?
• How does the school handle disciplinary problems?
• How often does the school report your child’s progress to you?
• Will the teacher be staying with them for the entire academic year? Or there is a possibility that they can conveniently hand in their 2-weeks’ notice and disappear for good?

Is the childcare centre near to your home or work?

Convenience is a highly underrated priority here. Driving or commuting through one big detour will add a strain onto your energy and expenses.

Besides, it would be much easier on your shoulders in the case of an emergency.

Childcare curricula and facilities

Well-designed curricula and facilities can help develop your kid’s cognitive and social abilities.

While there are no shortages of good curricula and facilities, you have to ask yourself, are those best for my child? This question boils back to your family values. What is vital to your loved ones? What are the skillsets and mindsets you wish to see in them over the next 5 to 10 years?

There are several childcare centres with interesting niches. For example, St. Joseph’s Home houses Singapore’s first intergenerational playground for kids and the elderly. There are several activities your kids and the elderly can do together, such as music and games. If you want your kids to develop compassion and respect for the elderly, this is one centre you can consider.

Despite having Buddhist viewpoints in its philosophy, My Little Gems Preschool offers a secular curriculum and also accepts non-Buddhist children into their programme.

They provide daily mindfulness and meditation classes for kids. Contrary to popular beliefs, meditation is secular as well. Many schools in the west have introduced mindfulness and meditations as part of their curriculum. This introduction has resulted in improvement in behaviours and academic performances for many students.

The benefits of meditation have also been recorded in several pieces of university research.

According to Stanford University psychologist and author of The Willpower Instinct, Kelly McGonigal, meditation can help to increase grey matter in the prefrontal cortex. With the presence of more grey matter, a person’s ability to have better self-control and discipline also increases.

Knowing what the centre offers isn’t enough. Drop by the school to observe how the teachers execute its curriculum. Observe the teacher’s way of handling the lessons and students. Take note whether the students are happily engaged.

Safety and hygiene 

This department doesn’t need further introduction. During your visit, enquire from the principal on the following:

• How does the centre ensure the kids are safely indoors? What security measures have the school implemented to prevent kids from wandering around unsupervised?
• Are the centre’s facilities and toys kid-safe? Do they have sharp edges or features which might jeopardise the child’s safety?
• Does the school implement a handwashing policy before meals?
• How often do the school implement temperature and health checks?
• What’s the cleaning and sanitising frequency of the centre? Do they have a schedule? Does the cleaning extend to sanitisation of the toys and other facilities?

*Please note that the following childcare centres are not ranked in order.

Top Childcare Centres in Singapore

When did the quality of the childcare service become the service’s ability to survive?

The child care industry has come a long way over the years, with a significant shift in focus away from simply providing care to ensuring that children receive a high-quality education and support for their growth and development. This shift in focus has resulted in significant advancements in the industry.

As a direct consequence of this, the provision of high-quality childcare services has emerged as a critical component in determining the longevity of enterprises operating within this sector.

In the 1980s, research began to emerge that highlighted the significance of early childhood education and its influence on a child’s potential for future academic and social success.

As a result, a trend toward providing high-quality childcare services began about this time. Because of this, there has been an increase in demand for high-quality child care facilities that offer an environment that is both stimulating and supportive for children.

In response to this demand, the childcare industry began to evolve, with many providers investing in training for their staff, upgrading their facilities, and adopting best practices for early childhood education. This was all done in an effort to meet the needs of the growing number of families who required their services.

This shift toward quality childcare services was driven not only by parental demand but also by regulatory changes that set stricter standards for licensing and certification. Parents were a driving force behind this shift, but regulatory changes also played a role.

To ensure a company’s continued success in this sector of the economy, the provision of high-quality child care services is now among the most important factors to consider. Because there is now more competition, service providers need to deliver services of a higher quality to differentiate themselves and attract clients. Parents are willing to pay a premium for exceptional child care that provides their children with an atmosphere that is not just safe but also stimulating and caring.

Furthermore, the epidemic has further highlighted the significance of high-quality child care facilities, as a result of the fact that parents have been forced to rely on these services in order to combine their work responsibilities with their obligations to their families. Providers who have been able to survive the challenges brought on by the epidemic are those that have been able to adapt to the changing requirements of families while also maintaining high standards of care and safety.

The provision of high-quality child care services has emerged as a critical component in determining the longevity of enterprises operating in this sector. The 1980s saw the beginning of a transition toward quality childcare services, which has been driven by parental demand, changes in legislative framework, and higher levels of competition.

Today’s providers need to separate themselves from competitors by providing services of a high quality in order to attract consumers, and the pandemic has further highlighted the significance of high-quality childcare services in providing assistance for families.

Improve the Current Childcare Structure

Developing a more effective system for childcare is a difficult challenge that calls for an approach that considers a variety of factors.

The provision of a high-quality childcare program is an absolute necessity for working parents who are in need of a dependable and secure environment for their children while they are in the office. In addition, research has demonstrated that a child’s academic and social success in the future is significantly influenced by the quality of their early childhood education.

In order to improve the current system of child care, we need to focus on the following major areas:

Access and Affordability: One of the Major Obstacles Facing the Current Childcare System Availability and affordability pose one of the most significant obstacles. Many families have a difficult time locating affordable care of sufficient quality. We need to make investments in programs that broaden access to high-quality medical care for all families, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

Quality Assurance Measures

The success of an improved childcare system is directly proportional to the degree to which all childcare providers are held to high-quality standards. This includes making investments in the training of personnel, monitoring and enforcing criteria for licensing, and promoting best practices for early childhood education.

Flexibility

Parents who have jobs require a child care system that is flexible and can be molded to fit the requirements of their families. This includes alternatives for additional hours of care, care over the weekend, and care in the event of an emergency.

Parental Support

In addition, parents require support in order to successfully navigate the childcare system. This support can come in the form of access to information and resources, aid with locating and selecting quality care, as well as financial assistance.

Partnerships

The formation of partnerships between childcare providers, schools, and community organizations can contribute to the development of a childcare system that is more integrated and all-encompassing. This includes encouraging collaboration between the various service providers and sharing resources and information with one another.

A large investment of resources and a concerted effort by stakeholders operating at all levels are going to be necessary in order to construct an improved system for child care. It is essential for communities, corporations, and governments to collaborate in order to guarantee that all children have access to high-quality care that satisfies their requirements and encourages healthy growth.

In order to help working families and ensure the success of future generations, it is vital to improve the system of child care that is now in place. We are able to develop a childcare system that is more efficient and all-encompassing for the benefit of all parties involved if we focus on resolving major issues such as accessibility and cost, quality standards, flexibility, parental assistance, and partnerships.

What Sets Childcare Centers Different From Private Nannies and Babysitters

When it comes to child care, parents have access to a variety of options, such as childcare centers and private nannies, amongst others. Even though both choices can provide care for children, there are important distinctions between the two that parents need to take into account before choosing one over the other.

Outside of their parents’ homes, children can receive education and care from professionals working in institutions known as childcare centers.

They might be as tiny as centers run out of people’s homes or as large as structures built specifically for the purpose. The staff at childcare centers are often well-trained individuals who collaborate in order to give care and instruction to children in groups that are appropriate for their ages. They provide a setting that is organized, with a curriculum and daily routines that are predetermined.

A private nanny, on the other hand, is an individual who tends to children within the residence of the child for whom they are caring.

They provide care on an individual basis and are able to pay more specialized attention to the requirements of each kid in their charge. Nannies working in private households typically have significant prior experience as well as relevant educational credentials. As a result, they are able to offer individualized educational and care services.

The amount of opportunities for socializing that are provided is one of the primary differentiating factors between childcare centers and private nannies. Children are able to engage in social interaction with others their own age in a setting that is both organized and supervised at childcare centers.

Because of this, a child can learn how to speak with other children and build friendships with them, which can be good to the child’s social and emotional development.

On the other hand, private nannies provide care on an individual basis, which may be preferable for children who are reserved or who have trouble adjusting to different situations. In addition, private nannies can give a higher level of individualized care and education for the child, which is based on the child’s specific requirements and areas of interest.

The cost of daycare is a crucial factor that differentiates childcare centers and private nannies from one another. The costs charged by childcare centers are normally predetermined and cover the expenses incurred by the center in terms of its personnel, facilities, and resources. On the other hand, private nannies receive a salary, which might make their services more expensive than the costs that are offered by daycare centers.

Childcare centers and private nannies both provide care and education for children; nevertheless, there are considerable differences between the two in terms of the chances for socializing, the level of customized care, and the cost.

When selecting a choice, parents ought to give considerable thought to the various possibilities available to them and assess the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative. In the end, the decision will be determined by the wants and needs of the child as well as the preferences of the family.

Should You Consider Placing Your Child(ren) in Child Care Centers in the Year 2023?

When it comes to operating a successful daycare center, having a budget in place is one of the most important aspects to consider.

Childcare facilities have a dual responsibility: to the children in their care, they must provide excellent care and education; and to the businesses that employ them, they must properly manage their financial resources. When planning a financial strategy for a childcare facility, there are a number of important factors to take into account.

To begin, it is absolutely necessary to have a solid understanding of the expenses that are associated with operating a daycare center. These expenditures may include salary for employees, payments for rent or a mortgage, payments for utilities, payments for insurance, purchases of equipment and supplies, as well as regular maintenance and repairs.

It is essential to have a thorough comprehension of these expenditures and to plan in accordance with that comprehension.

The cost of personnel represents one of the most significant expenses for a childcare center. It is vital to make investments in employees of a high quality in order to secure the very best outcomes for the children who are under the care of the childcare center. The staff is the center of any childcare facility.

While developing a budget for staffing, it is critical to take into account a variety of aspects, including salary, benefits, and the costs of training.

While developing a budget for a daycare center, enrollment is another important issue to take into consideration. A daycare center’s capacity to be financially viable can be considerably influenced by the number of children enrolled there. It is essential to have a crystal clear idea of how many children can be cared for at the center, as well as to strike a balance between this number and the expenditures associated with operating the facility.

In addition to enrollment, it is essential to give thought to other potential avenues of financial support for the center. This may take the form of grants, subsidies, or fundraising initiatives from the government.

These potential avenues of financial support have the potential to reduce the overall operational expenses of the center and so make it more commercially viable.

In conclusion, it is essential to perform consistent monitoring and evaluation of the budget in order to guarantee that the center is running within its financial limits. In order to ensure the long-term financial viability of the center, this may require making adjustments to the number of employees, the number of students enrolled, or any number of other areas of the budget.

Should You Consider Taking Your Kid to Child Care Centers in the Year 2023?

As we get closer to the year 2023, it’s probable that parents are thinking about their available alternatives for daycare, including whether or not they will enroll their child in a childcare center. When it comes to making this choice, there are a number of considerations to take into account, despite the fact that the choice ultimately depends on the requirements and inclinations of each family.

To begin, childcare centers provide a setting that is organized in such a way that children can learn and grow via both educational activities and play. The curriculum is adapted to fit the requirements of children of varying ages, and professional staff members ensure that children are cared for in a setting that is both secure and encouraging. Childcare centers can provide a sense of relief to working parents by assuring them that their children are in the capable hands of qualified caregivers while they are away at work.

Second, childcare facilities offer youngsters the chance to interact with others in a group setting. Children get the opportunity to socialize with other children of the same age, which is important for the children’s psychological and social growth. They gain skills that can assist children in later life, such as learning to share, communicate, and build friendships.

Yet, it is necessary to take into consideration the potential negatives of sending your child to a daycare center in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to do so.

For instance, some parents might be worried about the increased likelihood of their child becoming unwell or injured in a setting with other people. Also, it may be challenging for some children to adjust to the routine of a daycare center, particularly if they are accustomed to being at home with a caretaker. This is especially the case if the childcare center has a strict schedule.

It is vital to emphasize that the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic has provided an additional layer of concern for parents who are assessing their alternatives for daycare in light of the fact that the disease is still circulating.

Childcare centers have developed safety measures to limit the risk of infection, including as routine cleaning and disinfecting, the use of masks, and social separation from infected individuals. Nonetheless, parents may still be worried about the well-being of their children while they are in the company of other children.

Editors Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

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