To start 4-hour kindergarten programme in 2016 to give families more early childhood options

NTUC First Campus will open another 10 My First Skool pre-schools in 2015, bringing an additional 1,200 pre-school places to Singapore families. By the end of the year, My First Skool will provide 13,000 children with a safe and joyful learning environment in its 123 pre-schools across Singapore.

The new pre-schools will be located in neighbourhoods with demand for affordable, quality early childhood education, including areas in Jurong, Woodlands, Punggol and Sengkang.

More pre-school options for families

To offer more pre-school education options to families, My First Skool (MFS) will be offering a new 4-hour kindergarten programme at two of its pre-schools from 2016. A pioneer anchor operator appointed by the Government to provide early childhood care and education, MFS currently operates over 110 pre-schools offering full day infant care and childcare for children from two-months to six-years old.

Typically, children in childcare undergo a full day programme, which includes curriculum as well as care component for the holistic development and growth of the children. This full-day learning environment provides the opportunity for children to be involved in child-directed and free play activities where shared interests and the joy of group activity motivates children in learning.

In recent years, some parents who have appropriate care arrangements for their child have asked for a shorter programme that adopts the best practices and pedagogy of the childcare programme. With this in mind, MFS is offering a 4-hour kindergarten programme with the option of morning (8am-12pm) or afternoon session (1pm-5pm).

Starting January 2016, the 4-hour kindergarten programme will be introduced at two MFS pre-schools in high demand areas at Blk 744 Woodlands Circle and Blk 295C Compassvale Crescent. This programme will be offered out of existing MFS pre-schools that will be expanded. It will enable us to bring a full range of pre-school options that would cater to the varied needs of families in these neighbourhoods. Mrs Adeline Tan, General Manager of My First Skool said, “The introduction of this kindergarten programme is an attempt by MFS to make available a wider range of pre-school education options within the same pre-school compound, providing convenience and options to parents with different needs.”

Curriculum approach

This 4-hour kindergarten programme is open to children aged four to six years old, and uses the same curriculum for the 7,500 children in the 4-6 aged groups in our full day childcare programmes. The curriculum has these important features: (i) an immersive Chinese programme where children can embrace a dynamic and integrated learning experience in Chinese language, (ii) project approach that encourage children to explore and ask questions, (iii) learning in an inviting and rich physical environment that would encourage interaction and learning through play and (iv) an enriching classroom culture that promotes collaboration to give children an engaging and experiential learning experience.

Extending our outreach

The introduction of the kindergarten programme in these areas gives MFS the opportunity to serve a wider group of children. There will be a total of 200 places available at the two MFS pre-schools offering the programme. These two MFS pre-schools in Woodlands and Compassvale will continue to offer the full-day childcare programme in its existing premises while the kindergarten programme will be run in new extensions at nearby blocks.

Fees and Assistance Scheme

The monthly school fee for the kindergarten programme is $171.20 (GST included). Families with a household income of $6,000 or less a month is eligible for the Government’s Kindergarten Fees Assistance Scheme (KiFAS). Low-income families who receive the highest assistance may pay as little as $1.70 (GST included) every month.

Registration for this 4-hour kindergarten programme will be opened today from 21 January 2015 onwards. Parents of children aged four to six years old in 2016, can register their interest online. For more info and registration, parents may call the hotline at 6509 7887 or visit www.myfirstskool.com.