Choosing a preschool can be a challenging (and stressful!) task for parents, particularly for those who are still adjusting to life in Singapore. There are so many preschools in Singapore, each offering different curriculums, facilities, experiences and activities. To make your decision a little easier, we hear from these families about what they love about their preschools.
Stamford American International School
“We’ve been living in Singapore for nine years now. Both Samara and Gabriel are attending SAIS; Samara is in KG1 in the Early Learning village, while Gabriel is in First Grade at the main SAIS campus. Gabriel started there in KG1 and Samara in Pre-K.
First and foremost, the teachers are simply great; they build relationships with the kids and parents, and they constantly challenge and encourage the children to learn and do better. The well-rounded programme drives kids’ development and independency. We are pleased with the additional support and detail-oriented screening the kids get. We love the facilities, particularly the new Early Learning Village – it’s a great facility for the younger kids. Samara loves it! The facilities at the main campus are fantastic as well, and, although we struggled a little having one child at each campus, it’s been worth it.
We decided to enrol our kids at SAIS though our own research as well as based on the experiences of friends who have kids attending the school. It’s a great school that offers fantastic opportunities for children, preparing them for the future. The programme allows the children to learn on their own, moulding and developing them into independent individuals.”
3 Chuan Lane (Early Learning Village)
6602 7247 | sais.edu.sg
Australian International School
“Our children joined AIS in August 2017. The school provides a well-rounded environment for them to develop, from structured academic learning to social development. The teachers are specialists in their field, with warm hearts that easily connected with our children. Also, Charlotte and Jenson get exposure to Mandarin, which they would not have been exposed to back home. The facilities at AIS are amazing, and from day one our children always felt comfortable and welcomed – many days, it’s even a struggle to get them to come home!
We had our heart set on another school, but before we committed we decided to look at a few more, and one of them was AIS. When we walked around the school, we immediately felt a warm feeling of community, and we knew this was the school for our children. In South Africa, they’d also been in a Reggio Emilia-inspired school, so we relate to this philosophy and we wanted them to continue with this approach of learning. As parents, we always want to provide our children every opportunity to be prepared for the real world with a well-rounded education.
In the time that our children have been at AIS, we’ve seen them develop so much, from being very quiet children to becoming confident and social children. Jenson’s vocabulary grew literally overnight and we were so proud of Charlotte when she performed in the year-end concert. We can see the development in our children, and to us that is priceless.”
1 Lorong Chuan
6653 2958 | ais.com.sg
Between Two Trees
“Both Clara and Maya started attending Between Two Trees when they turned 18 months old. Clara has since finished K2 and joined Lycée Francais de Singapour (LFS). From the first time we visited the school, we fell in love with the place. Both of us attended small schools when we were kids and we wanted the same thing for our girls.
Green and natural outdoor areas were a must for us, too. We like the school’s use of the Reggio Emilia approach, their management and teachers. Over the years, we’ve witnessed constant refining and improvements to the premises, communication with parents, curriculum and activities. Sand play, water play, walks in the jungle, museum outings and cooking with the school chef are just a few of the many activities our children have enjoyed. We only speak French at home but that doesn’t prevent them from becoming fluent in English and Chinese. Clara also had no issue joining the bilingual (French/English) class at LFS where she excels at English and quickly picked up French reading and writing. We were also concerned about the switch from the preschool to LFS, but the transition was very smooth. The learning and social skills she developed at Between Two Trees definitely played a huge part!
We heard about the school through friends and decided to enrol our girls as the children looked happy and the staff showed a lot of passion. At Between Two Trees, children develop their personality, learn about the world (not just academics) with the support of an amazing team.”
7 Ming Teck Park
6733 9768 | betweentwotrees.sg
Blue House Nursery & International Preschool
“We came from Sydney and have also lived in Mexico, England and Israel. Max has been attending Blue House for five months. The school follows the child-led Reggio Emilia approach to learning, which sees children as capable and unique individuals. This child-led curriculum allows their voice to be heard. We’ve seen wonderful changes in our son since enrolling; he has grown leaps and bounds in his confidence, resilience and interest in learning new things – he says things like “Let’s test that hypothesis” and “How can we find a solution?” We’re most grateful for the calibre of his teachers – they’re highly experienced early childhood educators, loving, and relate well to the children. There’s always warmth and laughter in their interactions, and they make themselves available to parents to talk through questions or concerns.
A friend recommended Blue House to us. Having a background in psychology (Nagmeh), we are aware of how critical the early years are in forming a good foundation. We wanted a school that not only addressed literacy and numeracy, but had a strong focus on social and emotional development. The school environment is also well-connected to nature, with lots of outdoor play space, and classrooms feel more like home than school. Take a tour and see for yourself the beautiful classrooms and environment, the interactions between children and teachers, and the kids being kids while exploring and learning. The children are happy while learning, and it is clearly visible.”
2 Turf Club Road
6734 0824 | bluehouseinternational.com
Canadian International school
“We moved to Singapore from Japan around two years ago. Shogo started attending the school’s Pre-Kindergarten class and is now in Junior Kindergarten, while Keiya is in Pre-Kindergarten. When Shogo first started school, his class teacher was very supportive and helped him a lot. Shogo has since enjoyed music, physical education classes and mud play. He’s now able to read English books by himself and also can speak English fluently. He is also able to sing Chinese songs that he has learnt in school. He really enjoys going each day!
We are from Japan where almost everyone speaks Japanese only, so our kids were never exposed to English until we moved to Singapore. Therefore, we were worried that they would not be able to enjoy school. We visited a couple of schools and looked out for a few key features: whether the teachers were supportive of nonEnglish-speaking children learning English; the Chinese learning opportunities; support for allergies (for Keiya) and lastly if the children looked like they were enjoying their classes. CIS was the one that met all our requirements! We highly recommend the school for its diverse environment where children are able to gain mutual understanding of other cultures and nationalities.”
– Lakeside Campus, 7 Jurong West Street | 6467 1732
– Tanjong Katong Campus, 371 Tanjong Katong Road | 6345 1573
cis.edu.sg
Dulwich College (Singapore)
“Harry joined Dulwich College (Singapore) in August 2015 and loves it! The school has a welcoming atmosphere where pupils have fun, make great friends and are treated as individuals; even the management team know the children by name! Everyone has a smile on their face and pupils enter classrooms each morning without a backward glance. The dual language philosophy is outstanding. Parents are encouraged to get involved in many areas, and as such a friendly, close-knit community exists. We love that children are encouraged to achieve their best in a strong academic environment, nurtured through the early years and growing in confidence, so that by Year 2 they are determined, well-rounded individuals ready to transit into Junior School life.
The moment we stepped through the door, we were sold. The school has a thoroughly professional environment, and a caring atmosphere coupled with outstanding facilities and a drive to help children reach their potential. Harry has grown immensely at Dulwich and Phoebe can’t wait to join him this summer!
Dulwich College (Singapore) is an international school in every sense, and while it retains strong links to Dulwich College in London, it’s part of a network of Dulwich schools across Asia, allowing insight into the challenges of educating in a transient environment. The staff ensure that students interact across the year groups, so while Harry has classmates, he knows children from all classes who join him for Mandarin and other activities, meaning he feels connected to his entire cohort. If a friend leaves school or there’s a newcomer, students take it in their stride and aren’t impacted in their school experience or confidence.”
71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8
6890 1003 | singapore.dulwich.org
GESS
“Luca has been at GESS since we moved to Singapore in 2013. This is his fifth year and he’s currently in Grade 2. Alexander started in January 2017 and is currently in Kindergarten. Before our eldest started at GESS, going to school was a nightmare for all of us. He always felt out of place and overwhelmed. Being slow to warm up, he was never given what he needed, which led to him kicking and screaming on a daily basis. As soon as he joined GESS, all of this stopped. His teachers understood and respected his nature. They gave him the time and space he needed, even if that meant that he sat in the reading corner while everyone else was engaged in a group activity. They met with me regularly, always reassuring me that they had Luca’s best interests in mind. Through this strong partnership, we established routines and strategies at school and at home. By the end of the school year, he was a confident little boy who enjoyed group activities and being with his friends. We will always be grateful for the amazing work of his loving and supportive teachers.
With my husband being half German, we wanted our children to have some exposure to the language, which is why we chose GESS. The teachers, their passion and their relationship with parents are what I value most. Communication is open and easy, which brings parents closer to teachers, resulting in more effective, individualised teaching strategies and happier children. And when your child complains about not being able to go to school on weekends, you know they must be doing something right!”
– 72 Bukit Tinggi Road
– 300 Jalan Jurong Kechil
6461 0881 | gess.sg
GEMS World Academy (Singapore)
“Azaan is currently attending KG2 in the Early Years programme. He’s excited about going to school and loves his teachers. He is a reserved and sensitive child, and we’ve seen how his homeroom teachers have made an effort to map his traits and characteristics. He has been encouraged and given platforms to express his ideas, boosting his self-esteem and confidence.
At GEMS (Singapore), the kids have indoor and outdoor classroom activities as well as weekly slots for physical activities, swimming, music, Mandarin and visits to the school library. With a low student-teacher ratio, kids receive individual attention. We like the app the school uses to share the day’s highlights – we get pictures, videos and notifications every day! The daily updates allow us to have informed conversations with Azaan after school, and it makes us feel very connected. The children get to use interesting tools like ProScopes and Dash robots as part of their learning and to pick up ideas through a range of fun activities. Early Years’ students have a dedicated playground, pool, library and lobby area. The school organises activities, workshops and sessions to share with the parents on how to be more involved in their children’s learning and development.
When we were stationed in Dubai, we heard good things from friends who sent their children to GEMS (Singapore). When we moved to Singapore, we toured the school and felt that it met our expectations. It is a truly international school, with a good mix of students from various nationalities. We felt that it would foster openness and teach Azaan to value different opinions.”
2 Yishun Street 42
6808 7300 | gwa.edu.sg
Global Indian International lSchool (GIIS)
“Hasini started attending GIIS Mountbatten in June 2017 and we’re extremely happy to have sent her there. We’ve had many positive experiences in the short time she’s been there. The school offers activities beyond academics; my daughter has since participated in several contests and has won trophies. The teaching approach encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and Hasini is now confident to speak in front of a large audience. Parents are given opportunities to interact with their children in class. During our visits, Suganya has enjoyed doing science experiments, acting and baking with Hasini and her classmates. I also like the school’s many initiatives such as Joke of the Day, Tongue Twisters, Tell A Story, Brain Blitz and the various assembly presentations that keep the children engaged. The teachers also call us up to encourage us and ensure that our daughter is actively involved in school.
We have many friends who recommended the school and all offered positive feedback of their experience there, particularly about the co-curricular activities and teaching methodology. Besides the helpful and easy admissions process, the new campus facilities (designed for kindergarten children) gave us more confidence that we were making the right choice. The school sees the children’s potential, offering them the right opportunities to exhibit their talents. Besides academics, it’s important to have your child develop good attitude and character. Also, the school should be a place that leverages on your child’s talents. I’m confident that my child is in the right hands and, most of all, that she’s excited to go to school!”
GIIS has 4 locations island-wide
6508 3715 | sg.globalindianschool.org
International Community School (Singapore)
“We’ve been living in Singapore for eight years. Kayley is currently in Second Grade and has been attending ICS since Junior Kindergarten. Ezra began in Junior Kindergarten and is currently in second year of Kindergarten. The teachers at ICS are really invested in the character development of our children, in addition to academics. The Christian values taught have resulted in positive character development in our children.
The school has an incredible sense of community and is very welcoming. The class sizes are small and children get individual attention and are well-nurtured. We’re allowed to be part of our children’s learning and development journey by receiving regular and informative progress updates from the teachers that enable us to help our children at home. The kids also have Mandarin classes and learn valuable skills from their extra-curricular activities.
The students at ICS are a testament of the values taught; they are polite, courteous and considerate. We’ve seen our kids grow incredibly since going to ICS and we appreciate the Christian values taught. Having said that, while the school is a Christian school, you don’t have to be a Christian to attend and there are students from all faiths. There are also many opportunities for interaction among the school community; from the parents you meet in the canteen after school to the school carnivals and concerts. We’ve built many great friendships with other families.”
27A Jubilee Road
6776 7435 | ics.edu.sg
Integrated International School
“We’ve lived in Singapore for five years and Sasha has been attending IIS for six months. We met the director Dr Vanessa and told her about our struggles to find the right place for a child who needs more support for a mainstream education. Since enrolling, we’ve seen positive changes in Sasha’s academics and behaviour. She has also had her first graduation ceremony, moving from Preschool to Grade 1.
IIS offers strong academic support with low student-teacher ratios. As parents, we have regular catch-ups with the teachers to discuss results and areas of improvement, and to ensure that our objectives are aligned. There’s a real focus on helping children strengthen the skills they are good at and work on areas of improvement.
The school recently moved to a new location which is well equipped, offering a bright environment with an outdoor playground. We appreciate the activities planned for after-school hours, such as dance, soccer and language learning. They’re quite diverse, and the programme is reviewed quarterly. We feel like a part of the IIS community; we’re well-connected with other parents and we organise playdates regularly.
We came across the school online when we were looking for international schools with small classes sizes and additional developmental support. The teachers and specialists are very professional and offer children both academic and personal development; it’s exactly what we were looking for!”
41 Sunset Way, #01-01 Clementi Arcade
6466 4475 | iis.edu.sg
ISS International School
“Sofia started attending the ISS in 2016. Our experience at the school has been excellent. Sofia used to be shy, but her home-room teacher Ms Alison has helped her significantly gain confidence. Show & Tell is one of Sofia’s favourite activities in class and she is always excited to choose a toy or a book to present in class.
We visited several preschools in our area and spent time speaking with the school staff at each of them. We eventually decided on ISS because the class sizes are small, and the teachers encourage the children; they have certainly helped Sofia and offered her the opportunity to express herself. We also like that there is a big covered playground; this gives Sofia the opportunity to play outdoors, regardless of the weather! The fact that the school is near our home so that she doesn’t have to travel far to get to school is a bonus too!
We highly recommend ISS to any parent who is looking for a warm and caring environment. Our daughter has settled in well and loves going to school and learning. The school balances academics and play very well and provides the students with the best opportunities they can have. It’s a great start for a child’s school journey!”
25 Paterson Road
6235 5844 | iss.edu.sg
Kinderland Educare Services
“Channah is currently attending K2 at Kinderland. My older children also attended the Yio Chu Kang centre since Pre-Nursery and they have wonderful preschool memories. They’ve all learnt helpful skills such as greater focus, perseverance and teamwork, and have enjoyed participating in the marching band. The band performance is held annually and only offered to K1 students from the Yio Chu Kang campus. Your child would need to commit to three months of training, so the journey isn’t easy, but seeing their transformation makes it worth it! You’ll be impressed by how they can remember all the marching steps, while striking beats on the drums.
Kinderland also has a programme where children stay back after school to learn Mandarin. For two hours daily from Monday to Friday, the children are taught to speak and write in Chinese, enhancing their proficiency in the language. My son Chace improved his Mandarin after attending this programme previously and it helped to build a good foundation for him before he entered Primary One.
The main reason for choosing Kinderland (Yio Chu Kang) was its proximity to my in-laws’ home. My husband’s sister also attended the preschool more than 20 years ago! With its long history, we believe that Kinderland is a reputable and well-recognised school, and we’re happy to have sent our children there. Also, the Yio Chu Kang campus has a big school compound and the children are given chances to perform each term – this certainly builds their self-confidence.”
Kinderland has 22 locations islandwide
kinderland.com.sg
Maple Bear Singapore
“We’ve been living in Singapore for almost three years; before coming here we lived in Malaysia, where our son was born. He started attending Maple Bear from November 2016 and he goes there for five full days a week. The school has a lot of space, new and clean rooms and thoughtful teachers. There are also different art activities that Philip adores. It’s great not needing to think about where to find extra-curricular activities as the school offers music and enrichment classes, including Chinese, drama, mathematics, logic and sports. We’re happy that Phillip now speaks three languages – our native language (which only we speak to him with), English and Chinese. His two new languages are becoming more and more natural to him. He enjoys his time at school so much that it’s hard to bring him home every evening as he still wants to play!
We initially enrolled Philip in another school, but decided to change to Maple Bear. The campus is located close to our home and has smaller class sizes that give the kids greater attention. The classrooms are also clean and hygienic. Most importantly, the kids don’t just stay in their classrooms but they move around during the day. Every parent has their own preference, but we feel that the school is a good choice for our child’s development.”
Maple Bear Singapore has 24 locations island-wide
maplebear.sg
Marlborough College Malaysia
“We moved to Malaysia from Ireland three years ago for my husband’s job. Benjamin and Isaac both attend the school. Benjamin is in Year 3 and has been attending since Reception. Isaac just joined in September 2017 and is in Reception. We’ve been impressed with the school since day one, especially with the feel and ethos; it’s so friendly and there is a warmth amongst the staff and children that is unique. We’ve always felt that it has been a happy and good environment for our children. Both boys are learning Spanish and Mandarin and have also been enjoying sports and activities such as taekwondo, tennis and swimming.
We heard that MCM had a great reputation for teaching so we enrolled the boys there. Schooling has been a great success for the boys. They settled into the school easily; and, though Isaac only joined in September, his teacher and head of the Pre-Prep school visited him at home the week before he started, giving him that extra bit of confidence for starting school for the first time. The class sizes are relatively small, so both boys get more focused attention from the teachers. MCM has so much to offer in terms of its curriculum and extracurricular activities. It has given our boys the best start in school and we are delighted with the progress they’ve both made since they started.”
Jalan Marlborough 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Melbourne Specialist International School
“Ophelia has been attending MSIS since she was three years old. She started with three days a week and slowly increased to five days. What appealed to us was the location and environment. There’s a big outdoor playground surrounded by greenery, and there are wonderful facilities nearby such as The Pantry at White Lodge and the SPIDERfit gym, an indoor padded play area with trampolines.
We don’t have much experience with other special needs schools but we like the school’s curriculum of having a mandatory subject surrounding a creative activity every day, such as art, dance or drama. Being quite involved with the school, I’ve also seen the teachers at work and I’m amazed by their efforts to provide each child with an environment where they are respected and emotionally cared for.
A friend of mine sent me a message telling us about the school when they were just starting up. We had attended an introduction day and chose the school as it offered us flexibility in tailoring Ophelia’s education. When choosing a school, look at the classes they offer, the facilities, services and whether the tuition price suits your needs. I believe education is a hugely important part of every child’s upbringing. Decide what your priority is, what you consider important skills for your child to learn and how the school can facilitate that. For Ophelia, we wanted a safe environment where she can build up her social skills as well as increase her knowledge through learning at her own pace.”
75C Loewen Road
6634 8891 | msis.edu.sg
Nexus International School (Singapore)
“We lived in Dublin for two years before moving to Singapore in July 2016. Graham is in his second year at Nexus and is currently in kindergarten. Our older children attend Nexus as well and are currently in Year 4 and Year 6.
We couldn’t be more pleased with the early learning programme at Nexus. The teachers are patient and kind, warm and fun, yet firm. Watching them interact with the children, it’s clear that they love their job. Graham’s confidence and love of learning have both blossomed. He brings home books to read with us and he writes cards for us. The classrooms in the early learning pod are displayed with work by the children, manipulatives objects for hands-on mathematics learning, a reading nook, writing centres, art centres and more. The outdoor space is wonderful and the children spend a good amount of time there.
We toured Nexus with our relocation agent prior to our move. Out of the six schools we toured, I knew Nexus was the school for us. As a primary school teacher, I love the school’s approach to learning. In early learning, it’s about exploring and discovering, learning through touching, moving, listening and observing. The IB PYP curriculum is new to us, but our kids are thriving. We were also drawn by the smaller size of the school, the community feel, diverse population and the strong parent-school relationship. It gives us peace of mind that Graham is in a safe and happy environment. He is excited about learning and loves going to school, and that’s what’s most important to us for our five-year-old.”
201 Ulu Pandan Road
6536 6566 | nexus.edu.sg
Rain Trees International Kindergarten
“We’ve been living in Singapore for four and a half years since moving here from Dubai. Johnny officially started at Raintrees Kindergarten when he was two and a half, but before this, we attended the Mums and Tots sessions. George recently attended them too, before starting school in February.
Coming from New Zealand, we felt that the environment and teaching approach was very familiar – it reminded me of community kindergartens from my childhood. Each morning, the classroom is set up with creative and engaging activities to welcome the kids into class. Johnny has recently started showing off his Mandarin skills at home (which his dad is especially proud of!). Ms Angie, the Chinese teacher, also spends time in each Mums and Tots session so George will be catching up soon! Johnny’s week is very varied: parent-led cooking sessions, mystery readers, cultural celebrations, field trips and weekly Splash Time. The school also teaches the children about giving back to the community and helping the less fortunate.
When we went on our school tour, we saw lots of smiling faces and met the lovely staff – I immediately thought that it had to be a lovely place to be enrolled! I feel really lucky that we are part of the Raintrees community, and I can’t wait to see what the teachers will bring out in George. School drop-off and pick-up are really happy times, as class parents get to know each other and forge friendships. There’s a lovely community feel that has made navigating the expat world a little easier!”
60 Kheam Hock Road
6474 6181 | raintreeskindergarten.com
Shaws Preschool
“Leonor started school in August last year, a few months after we arrived in Singapore from Australia. Pedro started at the beginning of this year and so far it has been amazing. The children love it very much and are happy to go to school. The curriculum is very hands-on, with learning done through experimenting and exploring. The teachers are very caring, friendly and well-qualified, teaching in a funny and interesting way, keeping the kids engaged; they’re also always willing to help when needed. The programme is awesome and the children learn so much while having fun. Since my kids started, they’ve never refused or cried about going to school. The school offers excursions throughout the year and there are loads of other activities, from sports, robotics and dance to languages, music and arts. There is good communication between families and the school, so we always know what’s happening.
We visited other schools prior to visiting Shaws, we were recommended to do so by our neighbours who sent their children there. We fell in love with the cosiness of the campus and with the staff. The school was organised and clean, and the kids appeared interested in the class. Leonor was with us when we visited schools and this was the one she liked the most.
I recommend you to visit potential schools with your children – it’s good to get the little ones’ perspectives. Talk to teachers and ask as many questions as possible.”
Shaws Preschool has 6 locations island-wide
6382 0314 | shaws.com.sg
Singapore American School
“Amelia is in her second year of preschool at SAS and is now in Pre-K. Kyle is the Director of Communications at the school and he attended SAS in his senior year of high school, graduating class of 2002. Our experience at SAS has been beyond our expectations. We were somewhat prepared with Kyle’s previous experience, but as a parent, seeing the resources and support Amelia has received is incredible. The Early Learning Center (ELC) has been renovated in the Reggio Emilio style of learning: floor-to-ceiling glass walls, open concept spaces, student mobiles, indoor and outdoor exploration tables. Amelia’s teachers fully understand how to use the Reggio Emilio method and their classrooms reflect that. Amelia comes home singing Mandarin songs, talking about the latest visiting artist puppeteer and demonstrating techniques from her Move-and-Groove classes.
We heard of the SAS preschool programme through Kyle’s position at SAS. The best part of SAS is definitely the teachers. We may only have a child in Pre-K, but the level of personal care and interaction from Amelia’s teachers have been above and beyond. The teachers are amazing across the board. Even though Amelia is the youngest in her class, she is thriving as a leader and learner. It’s because she is surrounded by incredible teachers who are invested in her and nurture her daily. A school like SAS is hard to find. The teachers and staff truly know and care about my child personally, and have set her up with the tools to succeed.”
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
St Joseph’s Institution International
“Rupert has attended St Joseph’s Institution International since Prep 1 in January 2016. He started Grade 1 in January 2018, while Harvey is commencing Prep 1. We’ve loved the school ever since we joined and the school community has become a significant part of our lives in Singapore. Rupert has had committed teachers and enthusiastic specialist teachers for PE, Music, Art, ICT, Library and Mandarin, and he’s enjoyed making friends. Watching your children make and grow friendships is truly rewarding. He is excited to go to school every day and it makes everyone’s morning a little bit easier!
We heard of the school through various networks and it also came highly recommended by a good friend, whose daughter was going there. I completed a school tour and it reminded me of the primary school I attended in Australia. You can feel the sense of community upon arriving at the campus. It’s a smaller school, but with the facilities and advantages of larger international schools. We’ve been expats for over 12 years now, and we were very keen for our children to have an international education. Rupert’s Prep 1 class had over 15 nationalities which was such a wonderful experience for him. Additionally, SJI Inernational operates the Virtues Project, which offers character education.
The school provides holistic education, focusing not just on academics, but also on character education and a cultural experience. It has provided our family with a supportive and friendly community. The dedication and commitment of the staff alone is reason enough to recommend St Joseph’s!”
490 Thomson Road
6871 5202 | sji-international.com.sg
Swallows and Amazons
“Both our children have been attending the school for four months. We feel welcomed here, and the teachers are knowledgeable on to how to handle new children and are used to diversity of cultures.
The school’s curriculum is based on learning through enquiry. My daughter’s vocabulary has increased dramatically and my son is now steadier on his feet and walking well. The school also offers a nutritious lunch. Both our children have made many friends and always speak fondly about them and about their teachers. I like the way we get daily emails so we know what the kids get up to during the day. Teachers are easily contactable for any questions and there is an amazing outdoor space, too – the kids spend a good amount of time outdoors.
I had a long list of things I was looking for in a school, including learning through enquiry, a nice outdoor space, a school bus and extra-curricular activities such as swimming. Swallows and Amazons fit the bill! I met with Jackie the Director and she described curriculum and ethos; the school is just as she described it. The teachers are caring and the children are happy learning through play – m y daughter loves yoga and play gym, in particular. The teachers also make an effort to know all the children in the school. I’m so glad we found the school; we’re all very happy here!”
200 Turf Club Road
6762 8158 | swallowsandamazons.com.sg
Tanglin Trust School
“We’ve been living in Singapore since 2001. Our daughter Charlotte attends Tanglin Nursery. For us, Tanglin strikes the perfect combination of traditionally strong educational standards, a non-profit foundation and a genuine belief in nurturing and caring for children as individuals. Tanglin staff believe in learning beyond the classroom. The curriculum is international, unique and vibrant, cementing important basic skills in an exciting and relevant way that I wish I had experienced as a child! Thoughtful philanthropic projects run throughout the year with meaning and substance; they engage even the youngest members of the community. My daughter has also asked whether we could take the bus to school so that we could help to save the planet! She’s also learning to read, count and write.
Children are greeted each morning with genuine warmth and positive energy and there is a continuous aim to create a friendly environment within the larger school context. We have regular communications with Charlotte’s teacher who not only has an astute knowledge of her educational needs, but also takes time to know her personality and what makes her tick. Our rather shy little girl feels loved, valued and inspired on a daily basis and she skips along into school eagerly each day. She’s making friends from many different cultural backgrounds and as a family we are enjoying meeting so many lovely people.
At its heart, Tanglin is about family values and exciting learning, and it offers many possibilities for children and their families. It’s a supportive, fun and diverse community where we have felt warmly welcomed, reassured and confident in our children’s exciting journeys ahead.”
95 Portsdown Road
6778 5577 | tts.edu.sg
UWC South East Asia
“We moved to Singapore in 2013, having previously lived in Sydney for two years and before that in New York. Jack is currently attending K2 at UWCSEA East campus. Luke attends EtonHouse and we hope both he and their sister will join the school in the next few years. Jack loves going to UWC; he looks forward to school every day, comes home happy and even feels disappointed when he falls ill and has to miss a day of school. Academics are taught in a creative manner. You can see the joy in learning when your child comes back wanting to create stories, be his own author and illustrator, and thinking of numeracy concepts when doing daily activities such as grocery shopping and baking.
Academics aside, our highlight is seeing Jack learn life skills that shape him as a person. Kindness is a consideration in his mind, recycling is part of his routine and mindfulness is a technique he has practised. He even tells us to breathe and imagine blowing out a candle when emotions get the better of us!
We considered several other schools, but felt that UWC offered the best combination of an all-rounded education, global diversity and a commitment to making learning enjoyable. What makes the school great comes down to the wonderful teachers and teaching assistants who so gently but relentlessly guide the children along their learning journey. Both the teaching and non-teaching staff truly make UWC feel like a big family.”
– East Campus, 1 Tampines Street 73 | 6305 5344
– Dover Campus, 1207 Dover Road | 6775 5344
uwcsea.edu.sg
White Lodge
“Joey is currently attending Pre-Kindergarten at White Lodge East Coast, while June graduated in December 2017. They’ve both been attending the school since September 2016. We were originally at another preschool in the area, but were looking to change schools. We felt that White Lodge was a warm and loving place for our children. The school was very welcoming to us as parents and helped us ensure that our kids transitioned easily. They adapted well and love going to school. They’ve had fantastic teachers, amazing art projects to share and they love learning with the programming robot. The school really puts in an effort to teach in fun and engaging ways.
There are so many ways to get the parents involved at school as well. Our favourite day is UN Day, where families share the food, dance and culture of the country they’re from. The school embraces the diversity of its students and teachers, and our kids get to learn about Singapore and cultures from all over the world.
We first saw the preschool listed on a blog. We originally picked another school because of the distance, but our kids never adapted to the environment. White Lodge felt more like home, and our kids have been very happy there. It offers a good mix of academics with play and art, and that’s what our children need to flourish. Our kids love school and learning, and they love their teachers and friends, and that’s what matters to us!”
White Lodge has 8 locations island-wide
whitelodge.edu.sg
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For more, check out our Kids section.
10 things to consider when choosing a preschool
“Sometimes I wish I wasn’t a parent”
This article first appeared in the March 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
