Victoria Ng (left), English Teacher from My First Skool at Blk 222C Bedok North Drive, and Nur Nazhifah (right), Infant Care Teacher from My First Skool at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio received The Leading Foundation Teacher Award on 17 November.

Two months ago, Victoria Ng, English Teacher from My First Skool (MFS) at Blk 222C Bedok North Drive tasked the children in her class with building a structure that could withstand harsh weather conditions. As she observed the children hard at work, she anticipated that the children would construct a shelter to protect their creation. To her surprise, the children added two figurines to protect their figurines instead. Upon prodding, they told her they had constructed two Buddha statues to protect the building from any harm.

The children could come up with this unconventional solution because of Victoria’s unique teaching style. Deeply rooted in the ‘Mimamoru’ approach, a Japanese term meaning ‘watch and wait’, Victoria’s teaching style cultivates active learners who take initiative for their own learning by making decisions, applying strategies, and thinking out of the box to solve problems by themselves. 

For her commitment to creating active, confident, and empathetic learners, Victoria received the Leading Foundation Teacher Award (LFTA) on 17 November 2023. 

Established in 2014, the LFTA honours excellence in early childhood and special needs education in Singapore. All nominations for the LFTA are assessed by a panel of experts from the National Institute of Education (NIE), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore).

Another early childhood educator, Nur Nazhifah, Infant Care Teacher from MFS at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio, was also awarded the LFTA.

A strong proponent of parent-teacher partnership, Nazhifah provides guidance and support to parents so that their children can thrive. When the centre worked with a first-time parent whose son held his breath whenever he was upset, Nazhifah implemented strategies to help the child manage his emotions and consistently updated his parents on strategies that worked in class. Nazhifah also followed up with parents on the strategies they could implement at home and because of her steadfast support, the child eventually stopped this habit.

As an Infant Care Teacher, Nazhifah’s commitment extends beyond the immediate care of infants. She actively monitors their well-being, promptly addressing any health concerns and collaborates with parents and centre leaders to facilitate their progress. Her proactive approach is evident in the development of a transition booklet and plan, ensuring a smooth progression for infants to Playgroup. 

Additionally, she ensures that no child is deprived of essential needs, stepping up to help parents apply for aid, be it through KidSTART or NTUC First Campus’s charity fund Bright Horizons Fund.

For the indelible impact her tireless work has left on the lives of the children and families that she serves, Nazhifah was awarded the LFTA.