Proximity of a Child's Home and Preschool

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the average distance between a child's home and that child's preschool; (b) whether Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has analysed the correlation between this distance and preschool attendance rates, including any variation by housing type; and (c) whether proximity of residence will be given priority in the allocation of preschool places.

 

 

1. There is sufficient supply of preschool places today to meet demand at both the national and Planning Area levels, and more than 9 in 10 children aged 3 to 6 are enrolled in preschools. There would be several preschools accessible to families living within each housing estate. Families have different needs, preferences and caregiving arrangements, and may choose to enrol their children in a preschool near home, near relatives, or near their workplaces. Hence, proximity-based priority may not serve all families well. 

 

2. Preschool operators generally manage enrolment on a first-come, first-served basis. Operators also have the flexibility to consider additional factors, such as whether the child has a sibling already enrolled in the centre and the distance from the child's home to the preschool. 

 

3. ECDA will continue to monitor enrolment trends to ensure that families in Singapore can access affordable and quality preschool.