The time has come for you to make a decision on childcare services in Singapore for your children.
After narrowing down your options, one of your main concerns is the cost of childcare in Singapore. Preschool expenses can range from a couple of hundred dollars to over a thousand in a month, which is at the higher end of the scale.
The rising costs and higher standards of living in Singapore have made it an expensive affair to have children on this island. Dual-income households are not spared from the difficult task of budgeting for affordable preschool education for their children.
Fortunately, the Singapore government has put in place several schemes to help parents afford childcare services. This allows most families to enrol their children into preschools in Singapore without sacrificing too much of their disposable income.
These schemes come in the form of subsidies that families have access to, and in turn, provides every child access to quality preschool education.
The benefits of sending your children to a good preschool are extremely enticing, especially when you know they will be engaged by skilled educators to help develop their growing minds.
What are some of the subsidies that you can have access to?
Higher Preschool Subsidies for Childcare in Singapore
More families will come to enjoy the higher preschool subsidies as outlined by the government. At the moment, children who are Singaporean citizens will receive a basic subsidy.
To be eligible, they must be enrolled in a preschool centre that is licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). The amount of basic subsidy depends on the income of the working applicant.
Under ECDA’s definition, a working applicant refers to a mother or a single father who works at least 56 hours per month, which includes both freelance and full/part-time work.
On top of the basic subsidies, parents can now access more additional subsidies if your gross monthly household income does not exceed $12,000.
For larger families with 5 or more people living in the same household where at least 3 dependents are not working, you can receive the additional subsidy if your per capita income does not exceed $3,000.
Childcare subsidies from ECDA
Infographic is taken from ECDA website: https://www.ecda.gov.sg/Pages/Subsidies-and-Financial-Assistance.aspx
Based on the table from ECDA, a working applicant is entitled to a basic subsidy of $300 when you enrol your children (18 months and above) into a preschool. On top of the $300, depending on your family’s income, you may receive an extra subsidy up to $467 that can help reduce the total cost per month.
A non-working applicant is entitled to a basic subsidy of $150 for the same enrolment, but you will not receive any additional subsidy.
Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)
For families who wish to put their children in a kindergarten programme instead of childcare, there are subsidies available as well.
Eligible families can receive subsidy from KiFAS which ranges from $21 to $170 monthly through means-testing, with disadvantaged families receiving more to support their children's education.
To be eligible for KiFAS, one of the requirements would be for your child to be enrolled in a kindergarten under an Anchor Operator or the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Special Approval
What happens if you require more support, but you do not meet the requirements listed by ECDA?
You can apply for a special approval grant which will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with relevant documents supporting your circumstances.
Special approvals include parents who are not working due to the following circumstances:
• Looking for a job
• Studying/Training/On course for at least 56 hours a month
• Pregnancy
• Medically unfit for work
• Taking care of sick or special needs family members
• Caring full-time for a child under 24 months
• Incarcerated
Alternative caregivers like grandparents, legal guardians and foster parents can also apply for the special approval grant.
Cost of childcare fees at Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse
At Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse, we provide quality preschool education for an affordable price and all nationalities are welcomed to join us.
The costs of our full-day and half-day programmes are clearly listed on our websites at: https://kiddiwinkie.edu.sg/admission-info-fees#school_fee.
Book a tour with us!
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge of the subsidies that you are entitled to, why not book a tour with us?
Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse welcomes all parents to enquire further about our programmes and availability for your children. Come and have a look at our campuses, located island-wide, before you enrol your children with our star-studded education team!
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