Preschool Enrolment Withdrawal Notice Periods

Mr Alex Yeo asked the Minister for Social and Family Development given that preschool operators and centre licensees must give six months’ notice before ceasing operations while most service agreements commonly require only one month’s notice, whether the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will consider requiring a longer notice period in cases where preschool centres unilaterally terminate a students’ enrolment, in order to allow families adequate time to seek alternative preschool and childcare arrangements. 

Answer
1.    ECDA does not intervene in the contractual agreement between parents and preschools at the point of enrolment. In general, preschools seek to retain their enrolled children as far as possible. We strongly encourage preschools who are unable to support a child or meet a family’s needs to engage parents on the situation before proceeding with the withdrawal process for the child. 

2.    Unlike a preschool cessation which impacts all enrolled children and families, such withdrawals affect individual children with varying circumstances. Hence, prescribing a standard notice period for all withdrawal cases could constrain preschools' operations and their ability to respond appropriately to the circumstances of each case.

3.    Affected parents can use the LifeSG preschool search service to secure an alternative preschool placement. ECDA can also render further assistance should parents need more support.