SINGAPORE – Singapore is set for a major boost in infant care and childcare provisions as the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and five anchor operators announce plans to create nearly 40,000 new places from 2025 to 2029. This initiative is aimed at addressing the growing demand for these vital services in the city-state.

Among the new offerings are approximately 6,000 infant care slots, helping parents meet the needs of their little ones. Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, revealed the details during the Early Childhood Celebrations at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on November 2. The expansion is a strategic step to ensure that government-supported pre-schools can accommodate up to 80 percent of preschoolers, an increase from the current figure of over 65 percent.

In a move to simplify the application process for childcare subsidies, parents can soon directly apply online to the ECDA via the LifeSG app, rather than going through individual pre-schools. This new feature will be rolled out incrementally starting December 9.

Moreover, from January 1, 2025, families will benefit from a reduction in full-day childcare fee caps at anchor and partner operators by $40, making the new monthly fees $640 and $680 (excluding GST) respectively. Families with a gross monthly income of $6,000 or lower will see even greater benefits, qualifying for the maximum level of childcare subsidies. As a result, parents can expect to pay between just $3 to $115 a month – a mere 2 percent of their income, significantly easing financial burdens for over 17,000 additional children.

A New Era for Early Childhood Education

In an exciting development for early childhood education quality, the revised Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework, known as Spark 2.0, will be rolled out in January 2025. This updated framework is designed to give pre-schools greater independence and responsibility in crafting high-quality educational programs. Since its introduction in 2011, Spark has transformed the sector, with 60 percent of pre-schools now certified compared to less than 100 in its inception year.

Spark 2.0 emphasizes teaching and learning while allowing pre-schools more flexibility to create customized programs tailored to the unique needs of the children they serve. Ms Siti Daliana, the principal of a My First Skool centre, praised the new framework for empowering educators to adopt tailored teaching strategies, particularly for children facing challenges in language acquisition.

New Ethical Standards and Increased Support for Educators

The Code of Ethics for early childhood educators has been updated for the first time since 2004 by the Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore) (AECES) in collaboration with ECDA. This revised code will clarify the professional responsibilities of educators towards children, families, the community, and fellow professionals, emphasizing ethical decision-making processes supported by relevant case studies.

Additionally, amid a rise in child abuse cases reported to ECDA, which increased from 137 to 147 in 2023, efforts are being made to improve the working conditions and support systems for educators. Starting in 2025, childcare centres will no longer need to operate on Saturdays, and by the end of 2024, a relief staff pool will be established to support pre-schools in meeting their staffing needs effectively and efficiently.

At the November 2 event, 27 outstanding educators and early intervention professionals were celebrated for their vital contributions to enhancing the quality and inclusiveness of early childhood education in Singapore, with a total of 161 pre-schools recognized for achieving Spark certification.

This shift in Singapore’s childcare landscape promises not only to ease the pressures on families seeking quality care but also strengthens the support available for educators, ultimately benefiting the entire community. Stay tuned for more updates as Singapore takes these monumental steps toward a brighter future for its youngest citizens!