Choosing a Pre-school

Preschool Curriculum in Singapore: Frameworks, Approaches and What to Look For

How curricula work, the common approaches, and the questions that tell centres apart.

The short answer: Singapore has no single national preschool curriculum. The government sets frameworks that guide what children should learn, and each centre designs its own curriculum within them. So two licensed preschools can look quite different, one play-based, another Montessori, another built around a language or project work.

That is why asking about the curriculum is one of the most useful things to do on a visit. This guide explains the two official frameworks, the main approaches you will meet, and the questions worth asking.

The Two Official Frameworks

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Birth to 3: EYDF

The Early Years Development Framework from ECDA guides learning and care for children from birth to three years in centre-based settings.

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Ages 4 to 6: NEL

The Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) Framework from MOE guides what children aged 4 to 6 should learn in kindergarten, and how.

The NEL Framework was updated in 2022. It is built on the belief that children are joyful, curious, active and competent learners, and it stresses holistic development and the joy of learning. Our guide to the NEL Framework goes through it in detail.

Common Curriculum Approaches

Most centres draw on one or more of these approaches. Many blend them, so read these as descriptions of emphasis, not rigid labels.

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Play-based learning

Learning happens through play that is planned for a purpose, such as building knowledge, skills and attitudes. NEL describes play as the main vehicle for early learning.

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Montessori

Children choose from carefully prepared materials and work at their own pace, often in mixed-age groups, with the teacher as a guide.

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Reggio Emilia-inspired

Learning follows children's interests through long projects, and the classroom environment and children's work on display play a big role.

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Project or inquiry-based

Children investigate a question or topic in depth over weeks, and build skills while exploring it.

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Waldorf or Steiner

Emphasis on imagination, rhythm and routine, storytelling and handwork, with formal academics introduced later.

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Thematic

Learning is organised around themes, such as animals, transport or the seasons, usually over a few weeks, with language, maths, art and science activities linked to each theme. Widely used, and often combined with play-based learning.

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Future-ready

Starts from the question "what will children need in the world ahead?" and builds the programme around the answer: strong languages, technology and AI fluency, human skills and each child's strengths.

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Language or bilingual programmes

A language, such as Chinese, shapes much of the day. These can sit on top of any of the approaches above.

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None of these is automatically better. What matters is that the approach suits your child, is carried out well, and sits comfortably within the NEL Framework. For more on one of the most common approaches, read what is play-based learning. Our comparison of six curricula sets them side by side.

Six Questions to Ask About Any Curriculum

How does the curriculum align with NEL?

A centre should be able to explain, in plain words, how its programme reflects the national framework.

How much of the day is play and how much is structured?

Both matter. Ask for a typical daily schedule and what a child does in each block.

How do teachers check progress?

Look for observation of children and regular, specific feedback to parents, rather than formal tests for young children.

How is each language taught, and for how long each day?

If a second language is offered, ask what children actually do in it and how often.

What do enrichment add-ons replace?

Robotics, coding or music can enrich a day. Check they add to play and rest rather than crowd them out.

What happens in Kindergarten 2?

Ask how the programme helps children get ready for Primary 1, and whether it builds independence and social skills as well as academics.

Our questions to ask during a preschool tour and preschool visit checklist cover the rest of a visit. To work out which level your child is in, see preschool levels and ages in Singapore.

If you are interested in a future-ready pre-school, see how ChildFirst prepares children for the future.

Licence, Accreditation and Curriculum Are Different Things

A valid licence means a centre meets the legal minimum, and an accreditation such as SPARK is a voluntary quality check. Neither tells you which curriculum approach a centre uses. See how to check a licence and what SPARK certification means, then ask each centre about its curriculum directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all preschools in Singapore follow the same curriculum?
No. National frameworks, the Early Years Development Framework for birth to three and the Nurturing Early Learners framework for ages four to six, guide what centres teach. But each centre designs its own curriculum within them, so approaches and emphasis vary.

What is the best preschool curriculum in Singapore?
There is no single best one. The right fit depends on your child's temperament, your family's priorities and the quality of the teaching. A curriculum is only as good as how well it is delivered, so visit and observe a class.

What is the NEL framework?
Nurturing Early Learners is the Ministry of Education's framework for kindergarten education in Singapore, covering children aged four to six. It sets out what children should learn and how, with an emphasis on holistic development and joy in learning.

What is a play-based curriculum?
A curriculum where children learn mainly through play that teachers plan around specific learning goals. It is different from unstructured free play, because the adult chooses materials and activities with a purpose.

Is Montessori better than other approaches?
Neither better nor worse in general. Montessori suits some children well, while others thrive with more group or play-led activity. Ask to observe a class and look at how the children engage.

Does the curriculum matter more than the teacher?
Both matter, and the teacher usually matters most in practice. A strong curriculum delivered by warm, well-trained teachers will do more for a child than a fashionable curriculum delivered poorly.

Sources

Ministry of Education, Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) Framework: nel.moe.edu.sg.
Early Childhood Development Agency, Early Years Development Framework (EYDF): ecda.gov.sg. Confirm the current framework documents on each agency’s site.

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