How to select a child care centre in Singapore

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In Singapore, there are more than 1,665 child care centres as of year 2023. Out of these 1,655 centres, 805 centers also offer infant care service. There are at least 20 child care centres in every housing estate in Singapore. In housing estate like Woodlands, Jurong West and Bedok, the number of child care centres is more than 75.  

Different child care centres are operated by different operators, charging different fees, having different curriculum and standard. It is therefore important for parents to select a child care centres meticulously.

1. Select a child care centre - Budget

This is perhaps the most important consideration in choosing a child care centre as child care fee for full day child care service can range from $380 a month to more than $2300 a month before any child care subsidy.

As of 2023, the median fee for full day child care service is $720 while average fee for full day service is $1,037.

If you are on a tight budget, you may choose child care centres operated by those voluntary welfare organizations (VWO) or PAP community foundation (PCF) as fees charged by VWO and PCF tends to be lower as compared to other child care centres. Lower fee does not mean lower standard as these child care centres are non-profit and they have lower operational costs due to lower rental and help from volunteers.

Fee charged by some anchor operators like My First Skool, E-bridge is close to the median fee for full day child care service at around 850 before any child care subsidy.

Child care centres managed by private child care operators are usually very expensive. It can range from $1000 to more than $2300 a month.

It should also be noted that foreigners attending PCF child care centres will need to pay a higher fee as a measure introduced by the Singapore Government to differentiate welfares enjoyed by the citizens and other residents.

For a mother who works at least 56 hours a month, child care subsidy of $300 a month will be applicable.

Additional child care subsidy can be applied through child care centres if the household income is less than a certain limit. 

2. Select a child care centre - Location

This is the second most important factor in choosing a child care centre.

If you choose a childcare centre that is near home or near your office, it will probably save you time and money.

However, it is noticed that the child care centres in those industrial area or business districts tends to have less outdoor activity due to safety concern. For child care centres in the neighborhood, it is normal to see children playing in the playground when weather permits.

Childcare centre near your office will be a good choice when you cannot leave office on time. If your child is attending child care centre near home, you have to make sure you can reach child care centre before 7pm daily otherwise the child care centre will charge you an extra fee. In a competitive working environment, sometimes it may be difficult. If your child is attending child care centre near your office, you can leave office later, but you still have to fetch your child before 7pm.

If your child is attending child care centre that is not near home or your office, you may have to pay transportation fee and your child may also have to wake up early.

Lastly, children in child care centre in the neighborhood may get distracted when people pass by their classrooms, but this is not a problem for children who attend child care centres that are located in building of some organizations like country clubs or clan associations where human traffic flow is much less.

3. Select a child care centre – Staff to children ratio

When children to teacher ratio is smaller, each child will get more attention from the teacher.

Currently, all child care centres will need to meet the following guideline about staff to children ratio.

There are some child care centres which emphasize on smaller children to staff ratio as they think children should more attention from teacher.

Do ask the principal about this ratio before you enroll your child in any child care centre.

4. Select a child care centre – Mother tongue offered

There are many child care centres which do not offer mother tongue at all. If you think learning mother tongue is important, you should select child care centre that offers your mother tongue.

5. Select a child care centre - Curriculum

Child care centre is a place where teachers care for children. It is also a place where children start to pick up some new words or learn simple maths.

In some child care centres, enrichment program like abacus, speech and drama are offered without any additional fee. If you like your child to pick up these skills, these child care centre will be a good choice.

6. Select a child care centre - Procedure

Different child care operators have different ways of handling incidences like occurrence of hand, foot and mouth disease.

In some child care centres, principal will immediately call professional team to disinfect the classrooms when there is a confirmed case of HFMD within the premise.

For some child care centre, it may take a few days or a few confirmed cases before a professional cleaning company is engaged.

Second, it is common for children to fall sick more often in the first few months after joining child care centre. As a parent, you may want to learn how teachers deal with children who are sick and how they prevent the spread of virus like flu.  

Most child care centre will send children back home whenever the children have ever.

7. Select a child care centre - Reputation

If possible, do ask other parents whose children attend the child care centre that you are interested. This could give you some in-depth information about the child care centre.

You can join our online community to ask for review of the child care centre. Our facebook community is Childcare in Singapore. Many reviews have been written. You can conveniently search the review or ask for fresh review.

8. Select a child care centre - Credentials (SPARK and others)

Implemented since 2011, the Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework (SPARK) is a quality assurance framework to assist preschools in Singapore in raising their quality.

If the child care center is SPARK certified, it could means the child care centres has reached or exceed the standard set in SPARK framework.

But it should be noted that many private child care centres do not apply for SPARK assessment for various reasons such as cost.

Other credentials to look out for include recognition from the Health Promotion Board. The Health Promotion Board will give award to child care centres which provide healthy meal to the children.

Last, in some areas like Punggol, the waiting list for child care place is long. It is important for parents to register their interest earlier in order to secure a place at the child care centre. 

Check child care in Singapore if you are looking for child care centre in Singapore.