Parents of preschoolers, we understand. It’s no easy feat to choose the perfect school for your little one with so many choices in Singapore.

In fact, the rising cost of living is also a concern, especially with fees varying widely between public and private institutions.

But before we get to how much it costs to send your child to preschool, we first need to understand more about the early childhood education sector in Singapore.

Types of Preschools in Singapore

There are primarily two types of preschools in Singapore: government-supported and private ones.

Government-supported schools, including MOE kindergartens and those under the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes, offer subsidised fees.

There are five Anchor Operator schools in Singapore — PCF Sparkletots, My First Skool, My World Preschool, Skool4Kidz, and E-Bridge Pre-School. The monthly cost at these Anchor Operators for full-day child care is capped at S$680 (excluding GST).

Meanwhile, there are 331 centres under the Partner Operator Scheme. Well-known ones include Star Learners, The Little Skool House, as well as YMCA and YWCA Child Development Centres. Fees at Partner Operator preschools are capped at S$720 for full-day child care. As for private preschools not subsidised by the government, average fees are roughly S$1,500 onwards, with some prestigious schools in Singapore charging up to S$3,000 a month.

How Much Does Preschool Fees Cost in Singapore

Here’s the breakdown of government-supported and private preschool fees for a Nursery (N2) programme in Singapore.

Here’s a hack – use the LifeSG website to search for your desired preschool and find out all about its fees, vacancies, and more!

Is There Really a Difference Between Public & Private Preschools

The debate over public versus private preschools is a common one amongst parents.

While there are some differences, the gap has narrowed in recent years, especially with increased government funding for early childhood education.

Here are some aspects to consider:

Tips for Selecting the Best preschool

Psst – there’s no shame in being kiasu (afraid to lose out) parents. Here are three tips to choose the best preschool for your bub.

1. Be aware of your budget & available subsidies

Figure out how much you’re comfortable spending on preschool costs.

Apart from monthly fees, other add-ons (depending on each school) to factor into your calculations include registration fees (~S$50), optional programmes (~S$80), uniforms (~S$20), and insurance (~$5).

Fortunately, on top of utilising the baby bonuses, you can also use your bubba’s Child Development Account (CDA) to pay for preschool fees at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions (AIs).

To make preschool more affordable, subsidies are also available — the Infant and Childcare scheme as well as the Kindergarten Fee Assistance scheme (KiFAS)

Under the Infant and Childcare scheme, Singapore Citizen children enrolled in an ECDA-licensed school are eligible for Basic Subsidy, while an Additional Subsidy is available to parents who are working at least 56 hours per month and whose gross monthly household income is S$12,000 and below or per capita income is S$3,000 and below.

Assuming you’re a working mum whose gross household income is S$6,000, you’ll get a Basic Subsidy of S$300 and Additional Subsidy of S$340 if you send your child to full-day childcare.

The total subsidies you’ll get is S$640, with a minimum co-payment of S$115 still required.

Feel like the preschool costs are still too much? Great news – in 2025, the fee cap for full-day childcare will be lowered by S$40 a month to S$640 at the five anchor operators and S$680 at 28 partner operators.

In 2026, these fee caps will be lowered further, such that dual-income families with a child in anchor operator full-day childcare will pay around the equivalent of primary school and student care fees, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

Under the KiFAS, all Singapore Citizen children enrolled at an Anchor Operator (AOP) or Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergarten are eligible for means-tested subsidies if their monthly gross household income is S$12,000 or less, or per capita income is S$3,000 or less (for households with 5 or more members).

Applying back to the previous scenario whereby your gross household income is S$6,000, you’ll be eligible to receive a maximum KiFAS of S$109 and minimally co-pay S$55.

To check how much you can get in subsidies, you can use the calculator on the ECDA website here

2. Learning paedagogy

Next, familiarise yourself with various educational philosophies like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and play-based learning.

Does your child prefer structured or unstructured learning environments? Teacher-led or child-led activities? Individual or group play?

Asking these questions will better help you choose a preschool that aligns with their needs and interests.

3. Proximity to home and/or work

Lastly, think about where the preschool is.

Choose one that’s easy to get to, whether it’s close to home in Bedok or your workplace in Raffles Place.

This will make your life a lot easier, especially during those hectic mornings. Before making a decision, why not also visit the preschool? Take a look around the classroom and see if it feels like a warm and inviting place. Watch how the teachers interact with the kids and see if the overall atmosphere feels positive and stimulating. Ultimately, the best preschool is one that not only provides a good education but also makes your child happy and excited to learn.