Considerations for a childcare center in Singapore

Choosing the right childcare centre in Singapore involves more than comparing fees and learning programmes. The centre should suit your child’s needs, your family’s routine and the practical realities of travelling between home, work and childcare.

For parents searching for childcare Singapore options, the following checklist organises some important considerations into six practical pillars.

Location, accessibility and operating hours

• Would a centre near your home, workplace or your child’s caregiver be most convenient?
• How long will the journey take during peak-hour traffic?
• Who will handle drop-off and pick-up each day?
• Does it operate throughout the year?
• Are there closure dates for public holidays, staff training or other events?
• Is there enough flexibility if you occasionally need to collect your child later than usual?

Reputation, standards and first impressions

Before choosing a childcare centre, gather information from both official sources and other parents.

• Speak to parents whose children currently attend the centre.
• Ask friends, neighbours or local parenting communities about their experiences.
• Use the LifeSG Preschool Search to find, save and compare centres.
• Check whether the centre is licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
• Find out whether it is certified under the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK), a quality-assurance framework for preschools.
• Remember that another family’s preferred centre may not necessarily be the best fit for your child.

Your child’s comfort and the centre environment

During the visit, observe:

• Whether staff are attentive to the children and communicate respectfully with one another.
• Whether the environment feels clean, organised and well maintained.
• Whether children have sufficient space to play, rest and store their belongings.
• Whether your child appears comfortable with the staff, environment and other children.

Learning, development and staff quality

Ask how the centre supports your child’s learning, development and individual needs.

• What activities will your child take part in during a typical day?
• How much time is allocated to play, outdoor activity and quieter learning?
• Staff-to-child requirements differ by age group, so parents should check the current guidelines that apply to their child.
• What is the staff-to-child ratio for your child’s age group?
• Does it meet current ECDA requirements?
• What is the centre’s staff turnover, and will your child have a regular educator or care team?

Meals, milk and everyday care

• Ask about meals and nutrition and how they deal with picky eaters or specific dietary requirements. 
• Ask about toileting and potty-training policies. 
• Ask about the daily essential packing list – what is needed in the child’s bag? 
• Ask how the childcare center facilitate to feed pre-packed breastmilk. 
• Ask how staff handle the preparation of milk feed if bottle-feeding is required

Safety, settling in, fees and availability

Before enrolling, understand how the centre protects children and manages the transition into care.

Safety and authorised collection

• What security measures control entry into and exit from the centre?
• Who is authorised to collect your child?
• How does the centre verify another caregiver’s identity?
• What happens if an unfamiliar person arrives to collect your child?
• What are the centre’s illness and emergency procedures

Settling-in arrangements

• Does the centre offer a settling-in period?
• Can your child begin with shorter sessions before moving to a full day?

Both parents and children may need time to adjust. Discuss any concerns with the educators and agree on a gradual transition where possible.

Fees and subsidies

• What are the monthly fees before and after applicable subsidies?
• What notice period applies if you withdraw or change your child’s schedule?
• Is your child eligible for the ECDA Basic Subsidy, Additional Subsidy or other financial assistance?
• Can eligible fees be paid using funds from your child’s Child Development Account?

If you’re returning to work, read our tips for going back to work after a baby.

Sources:

https://www.childcare.co.uk/information/nursery-is-your-child-ready