Looking for an international preschool in Singapore? There are many things to inspect in your choices, from the teachers’ expertise to the school’s facilities, but one that’s usually at the top of the list for parents is the curriculum.
The goal is to find the one with the best fit for your child’s developmental needs and later educational goals. If you don’t know where to begin, this should help you figure it out.
What characterises international preschool curricula in Singapore?
In our country, most international preschools use globally recognised pedagogies and curricula. These include ones from the UK and Australia, where holistic development and play-based learning tend to be popular.
Such preschools also tend to focus on interdisciplinary learning from the get-go. Cultural diversity, variation of perspectives, and multiple traditions are generally introduced early on.
The most popular curricula today
Popularity is hard to measure, of course, but several methodologies and their accompanying curricula tend to be more common than others in our international preschools today:
1. The Montessori method and curriculum
The best way to describe this specific approach to education is to speak of self-directed learning. It’s highly focused on independence and permits children the ability to work on individual projects, even within mixed-age classrooms.
2. The Reggio Emilia method and curriculum
This particular approach was inspired by Italian pedagogy that revolves around inquiry and its role in learning. Creativity is important as well as exploration. Children discover the environment with open-ended resources and build skills like problem-solving in the process.
3. The International Primary Curriculum or IPC
IPC is mainly for children aged 3 to 12 and puts subjects like science and social studies in a framework where learners discover them through thematic units. Key to the approach are reflective thinking, collaboration, and the multidisciplinary connections.
Critical considerations when choosing
There are several things to bear in mind when looking for the right curriculum for your child. Try asking these questions when assessing your options:
- Does it go beyond academics? At this stage of your child’s life, academics represent just one drop in the bucket! Look for preschools that provide for emotional and social growth, among others.
- Does it align with your future goals? Are you planning to enrol your child in a specific school after preschool? You may want to look for a preschool using a curriculum compatible with your intended elementary/primary school, then.
- Does it offer rich opportunities for cultural discovery? Most parents place children in international preschools to help broaden their children’s horizons early on. Make sure the preschool you’re looking at supports that, providing ways for little ones to further expand their intercultural awareness.
Always consider your child’s unique needs
Perhaps the most important thing to think about when choosing a preschool curriculum is whether or not your child can ultimately thrive in it. A curriculum that aligns with your future goals but doesn’t help your child grow isn’t worth much.
Take time to think about what your child needs. How does he or she prefer to learn? What interests does he or she have?
Look for an international preschool that can tap into those things and bring out the best in your little one. You’ll be astonished by how much it can turbo-charge your child’s development!
