Nurseries/Pre-schools in Singapore

[Anneinjapan]

My husband and I will be moving to SG towards the end of the year with our two sons. When we move, the eldest will be just under 4 and the youngest will be 18 months old.

My husband and I will both be working so we are looking at childcare options for them both, preferably a nursery or school that would take them both. Any advice/suggestions?

We will both be working in CBD and will decide where to live once we have figured out childcare

Thank you!

In general, Singaporean preschools have a different approach to early childhood education to what you might be used to. They can be very focused on early learning of literacy and numeracy, which doesn't really align with the play-based approach that most Western countries take.

Prices vary wildly and can be very expensive, particularly the preschools that appeal to expats.

If you're on Facebook, join a couple of Singapore groups to get recommendations - Singapore Expat Schooling Forum would be a good one to start. Stork's Nest Singapore is also another active group that is focussed on parents with babies and young children. You should be able to get advice on some good schools to check out. Just make sure you specify you need long day care.

My kids are a little older but we started in singapore when they were a bit younger than yours.
We sent them to a local day care/kindergarten and it was quite cheap relatively to the more western style ones. Actually it was fantastic. They were bilingual in mandarin within the first year, the academics did the no harm at all and there was plenty of play/music/trips as well. Their reputation is unjustly fierce if you choose the right one- my kids thrived. At 5 and 7 they're now at international school as local school is tricky to get into but we are delighted with their preschool experience. There are so many in singapore just live closeish to work and ask around once you know where you will be.