The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has launched We Are Wonderful Partners!, a new parent-preschool partnership guide developed together with parents, educators, preschool operators and sector partners. The guide aims to help parents and early childhood educators work together more effectively in support of children's holistic development and well-being.
2 Parent-preschool partnerships are a key pillar of ECDA’s Quality Preschools 2030 plan. The guide seeks to strengthen collaboration between parents and educators to support continuity in learning, consistency of care and positive development outcomes in the early years.
3 We Are Wonderful Partners! is anchored on three core values that underpin effective parent-preschool partnerships:
● Trust: Where parents recognise educators as professionals in child development, and educators acknowledge parents as a child’s first teacher.
● Respect: Where parents value educators’ expertise and the preschool’s philosophy, while educators appreciate parents’ perspectives and understanding of their child’s and family’s needs.
● Empathy: Where parents show consideration for educators' well-being by communicating through official channels during working hours, and educators are responsive and open to parents' concerns — fostering respectful dialogue that supports children's development and well-being.
4 The guide was launched by Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming at the Our Wonderful Parents (OWP) Learn & Connect event, organised by Preschool Market and supported by ECDA. The event brought together parents, educators, preschool leaders, and sector partners to discuss best practices in parent-preschool partnerships across the early childhood community.
Developed in Consultation with the Community
5 Co-created with parents, educators, preschool operators and sector partners to ensure it reflects diverse perspectives while remaining practical for everyday use, the guide was informed by consultations that revealed challenges in parent-preschool partnerships, such as navigating evolving parenting expectations and communicating sensitively with one another. These insights informed the guide’s emphasis on building a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities, and establishing a common language for partnership.
6 The Guide was also informed by the findings from the Preschool Experience Survey conducted in November 2025, which identified opportunities to strengthen parent-preschool partnerships:
- 57% of parents prioritised greater clarity on the roles and expectations of parents and educators in supporting children as partners;
- 46% of parents appreciated practical resources to support children's learning and well-being at home; and
- 42% of parents sought structured platforms for parent involvement.
7 Chief Executive Officer of ECDA, Ms Ku Geok Boon, said, "The Guide is the first resource that speaks to both parents and educators equally, complementing existing frameworks which support parent engagement as part of educators' professional practice. Reflecting the lived experiences and evolving needs of parents and the wider sector, it offers a starting point for conversations grounded in mutual trust, respect and empathy. Together, with a shared language to work from, we can forge deeper and more meaningful partnerships towards our common goal – to bring out the best in every child.”
8 Norizan Rahmat, Lead Preschool Educator at 7oaks Preschool (Jurong West St. 81), who participated in user testing of the Guide, said, "As an educator, I've seen first-hand how children flourish when parents and educators are on the same page. When we share a common language, it becomes so much easier to support each child consistently – both in the classroom and at home."
9 This view is shared by parents who have experienced the difference that strong partnerships can make. Nithiyasri DO Subramaniam, mother of four-year-old Mitrasri Daneshvar from PCF SparkleTots @ Bukit Timah Blk 305, participated in the co-creation process of the Guide and was recognised as one of the Our Wonderful Parents in 2025. She said, “Parents and educators each see different sides of a child. When we communicate openly and with respect, we get a much fuller picture of who they are and what they need.”
10 Ms Marini Khamis, Chief Operating Officer of PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots, who also contributed to the development of the Guide, said, "At PCF Sparkletots, we are committed to building open, respectful and supportive relationships with families so that every child gets the best possible start in life. We welcome the Guide as a resource that helps preschools and parents develop a shared understanding of how we can support children together and we hope it will encourage even closer collaboration across the sector."
Supporting Stronger Parent-Preschool Partnerships Across the Sector
11 ECDA will distribute physical resource packages to approximately 1,800 preschools across Singapore, with digital versions made available to parents through preschools’ communication channels. Ongoing community engagement activities include roving activations at selected preschools, events during Teachers’ Day celebrations in August and the Early Childhood Celebrations in September, where parents and educators will be encouraged to share their ideas on strengthening partnerships. More information is available at https://go.gov.sg/wearewonderfulpartners.
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