Preschools in Singapore: Which Age to Enrol Your Child?

Last updated January 2026

Pre-school education is a natural stepping stone in a child’s early development. This is where they make the transition from home to school and are first exposed to learning in a classroom environment with other children.

One would think that it wouldn’t take much effort for a parent to enrol their child into preschool, right? Contrary to popular belief, it can actually get quite competitive even at this early stage. In some countries, parents are even on waitlists just to get their children into preschool.

Given the competitive environment in Singapore, a headstart for your little one may be worth considering.

From knowing the right age to enrol to the different options available, here are five essential things to know when enrolling your child into preschool in Singapore.

When to Enrol Your Child in Preschool and 4 More Things You Must Know

1. When to Enrol Your Child

Up to today, there’s still an ongoing conversation about when actually is the right age to enrol your child into preschool. Before diving into the specifics, let’s take a look at preschool in the context of Singapore.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), preschool or nursery school is primarily for children under the age of 7 and includes half-day or full-day care programmes and kindergarten preschool education.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defined the preschool age range as three to five years old, some preschools in Singapore have seen children start anywhere between 18 months to 2 years old for those in the pre-nursery level.

These programmes are geared towards children of this age range since they are more capable of responding to simple instructions, more used to daily socialisation and are overall more developmentally ready for school.

While it is recommended for children to start preschool between 18 months to 2 years old, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all parents have to follow this to a tee. There’s no need to be too stringent; these recommended ages are merely suggested guidelines. At the end of the day, parents know their children the most and know when the best time is to enrol.

2. The Different Types of Preschools in Singapore

In Singapore, the different types of preschools can be categorised as public/government-supported preschools and private preschools.

Public preschools: Most public preschools fall under MOE Kindergartens, which operate directly under the guidance of MOE with the aim of providing quality and affordable education to local children. Other well-known public preschools in Singapore include NTUC My First Skool, PCF Sparkle Tots and Skool4Kidz, amongst many others.

Private preschools: Private preschools are essentially independent institutions, including international schools that offer early years programmes. International preschools typically provide globally recognised curricula, smaller class sizes, and a multicultural environment.

When choosing the right place for your child, some of the most important factors to consider are the curriculum and teaching methods, class size, location, and the teacher-to-student ratio. Be sure to do your own research beforehand.

3. Why International Preschools Provide an Edge

While plenty has been done over the years to boost the quality of Singapore’s preschool education, international preschools still have certain advantages that can benefit your child’s development.

Personalised learning approaches: Most public preschools tend to have a standardised curriculum for their students. However, international preschools often adopt unique educational philosophies that focus on individual student needs. Once the child’s strengths and areas of improvement are identified, teachers provide personalised guidance that aids in the child’s growth.

Smaller class sizes: International preschools typically maintain smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualised attention for each student and a more holistic approach to early education.

Specialised teachers: International preschools hire teachers with expertise in specific areas such as early childhood development, music, movement, and languages.

Inquiry-based learning: Many international preschools, including those following the Reggio Emilia philosophy or the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), emphasise curiosity-driven, play-based learning that develops critical thinking from an early age.

4. The Costs of an International Preschool Education

Since they don’t have access to government funding that local preschools receive, international preschools typically have higher tuition fees. However, parents can rest assured that this investment supports smaller class sizes, specialised teachers, purpose-built facilities, and comprehensive programmes that nurture the whole child.

To give you a rough gauge of what the costs would look like, here’s a look at the AIS tuition fees per semester according to level.*

Pre Nursery/Nursery (2026)

Preschool 3 (P3) (2026)

Preschool 4 (P4) (2026)

*Fees include 9% GST and do not include the application fee (S$920), enrolment fee (S$4,450), or facility fee (S$2,745 for Nursery/Preschool). View the complete AIS fee schedule.

5. Preschool Develops Your Child for Success

If you’re still debating on whether to enrol your child in preschool, let it be known that there are many benefits in doing so:

• Social development: Being exposed to a warm and welcoming preschool environment gives children the unique experience to practice their socialisation and cooperation skills with other children.
• Emotional readiness: Children learn to navigate emotions, build confidence, and develop independence in a supportive setting.
• Structured learning: Preschool helps children adapt to the concept of structured learning, which is immensely valuable as they progress to higher levels of education.
• Language development: Immersion in an English-speaking environment—particularly beneficial for families from non-English speaking countries—supports early language acquisition.

Get an Academic Headstart at AIS

If you’re looking to give your child a strong start in their educational journey, AIS offers a world-class Early Learning Village purpose-built for children aged 18 months to 6 years.

Why families choose AIS Early Years:

• Award-winning Early Learning Programme (voted Best in Singapore, 2021)
• Purpose-built 50,000 sqm Early Learning Village inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy
• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework
• Small class sizes with qualified early childhood educators
• Multicultural environment with students from over 50 nationalities
• January-December calendar aligned with Asian school years

Simply book an on-site tour with us today to get started!