Thinking about preschool for your child? Here’s how to choose a preschool in Singapore in 2026, plus where to find official preschool listings and information on preschool openings and vacancies.

Many families in Singapore prefer an early school start for their children. According to recent data, the local preschool enrolment rate is 88% for children aged three to four, and 95% for children aged five to six.

Singapore’s Ministry of Education recommends that all children attend preschool to develop qualities and skills like:

• Self-confidence

• Social skills

• Literacy and numeracy skills

If a child has caregivers who wish to explore homeschooling, this could be a viable option. At the same time, there is research to show that children who have attended preschool for at least two to three years have better outcomes for English and Maths.

We advise you to do your own research and consider the trade-offs.

How to choose a preschool for my child in 2026?

Before enrolling their child in a preschool, parents will typically weigh the following factors and decide what to prioritise:

• Proximity

• Cost

• Duration (full-day or half-day)

• Programmes offered

• Class size

• School reputation

In the end, the right preschool is one that fits your child’s needs and your family’s priorities.

Where to find a list of preschools in Singapore?

To find a suitable preschool for your child, it’s best to use the LifeSG search tool. This lets you search by location, preschool level, and month of enrolment. From the results, you can check if there are current vacancies.

If you like the idea of new preschool premises, you can view a list of preschools that will be opening in 2026.

For parents who wish to look at raw data on active preschools in Singapore, you can visit data.gov.sg.

In Singapore, what is the difference between “preschool,” “childcare,” and “kindergarten?”

Here in Singapore, “preschool” refers to schools that take in children below age seven. This includes infant care centres, child care centres, and kindergartens.

The main difference between care centres and kindergartens is this: care centres provide full-day programmes (some may offer half-day or flexi-hour options), while kindergartens typically provide half-day programmes.

Some preschools fall under the Ministry of Education's purview, and these are known as MOE Kindergartens. Such kindergartens are linked to Early Year Centres (for little ones from two months to four years old). Eligible children are guaranteed a place in an MOE Kindergarten from ages five to six. MOE Kindergartens share premises with primary schools, and there is priority admission when it comes time to register for Primary 1.

Preschools managed by ECDA and MOE are known as government preschools. They receive government support and adhere closely to government guidelines, with the aim of providing quality preschool education at an affordable price.

There are also private preschools, managed by individuals or private companies. These may design their own curriculum (for example Montessori or Reggio Emilia), but still need to comply with ECDA regulations. Compliant schools will appear in the LifeSG search results.

Where to find a list of international preschools in Singapore?

You can refer to Education Destination Asia for a list of international schools in Singapore, and filter by level.

What are some preschools that I can visit in 2026?

Need ideas for well-known preschools to check out in Singapore? The following preschools offer distinct benefits:

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