Do you have an idea how much exactly families have to spend for childcare in Singapore?
It’s not always as straightforward as it should be! As parents, you only want the best quality of education for your little ones, but you also don’t want to overspend and go above your budget.
The good thing is that there are basic and additional subsidies that families in Singapore can apply for to help offset childcare fees.
So… To help you make a more informed and financially wise decision, here’s everything you need to know about childcare fees in Singapore!
How much is childcare in Singapore?
Childcare fees in Singapore vary depending on the type of centre you choose! Some preschools are generally more expensive than others due to facilities, curriculum, location, and more.
The three most common types of preschools are premium, anchor operator, and partner operator. Although different in fees and structure, they share the same goal of helping children learn routines and develop independence.
Let’s take a closer look at how much these preschools usually cost.
1. Premium or private
The average monthly cost of sending your child to a private centre ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 per month.
Premium centres are privately owned preschools that follow a specialised curriculum structured around a specific teaching pedagogy. Many of these preschools implement either the Montessori or Reggio Emilia.
It’s also common for private preschools to specialise in bilingual classes and offer enrichment classes in art, speech, and drama.
When it comes to the teacher-student ratio, these preschools usually follow the standard set by the ECDA, so your child will likely receive adequate personalised attention.
Little Footprints, Star Learners, and MindChamps are some of the many private preschools in Singapore.
2. Anchor operators
With anchor operator preschools, expect an average monthly cost of $720 for half-day and around $1,300 for full-day childcare.
The anchor operator is a scheme that provides funding to selected preschools to make early childhood education more accessible to families. It targets mainly families with a lower income bracket.
Similar to premium centres, these preschools follow a specialised curriculum designed around an educational philosophy. The key difference between the two is that there’s a cap to the latter’s childcare fees.
The five anchor operators are M.Y World Preschool, Skool4Kidz, PCF Sparkletots, My First Skool, and E-Bridge Pre-school.
3. Partner operators
The average monthly costs for partner operators are capped at $750 for full-day childcare and $1,400 for full-day infant care.
They’re largely similar to anchor operators in the sense that they aim to improve and make childcare more accessible in Singapore. The only difference is that this scheme is directed towards childcare providers with at least 1,000 slots.
Some examples of partner operators in Singapore include Star Learners and Small Wonder by Busy Bees.
Childcare subsidies in Singapore
Don’t be discouraged by the seemingly hefty cost of childcare in Singapore – there are various government subsidies aimed at making early childhood education more accessible for families!
As long as your child is a Singaporean citizen enrolled in an accredited childcare centre, your family automatically qualifies for the basic subsidy of $300 for full-day childcare and up to $600 for full-day infant care, regardless of your home’s income tier.
However, the mother’s working status will be considered. Working mothers are given a higher subsidy of $600 for full-day childcare, while non-working mothers are given only $150.
Besides the basic subsidy, you may apply for an additional subsidy of up to $467 for full-day childcare.
Families with a gross monthly household income of $12,000 and below, or per capita income of $3,000 and below for larger families (with at least three dependents) are eligible for additional subsidy.
