Full-Day Model for MOE Kindergartens

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will pilot a Full-Day Model (FDM) at two MOE Kindergartens (MKs) in 2027, and progressively implement the FDM across all MKs from 2028 to 2030. This is part of the Government's broader efforts to help families access quality and affordable preschools, as announced at the National Day Rally 2026.

Moving Towards an Integrated Full-Day Experience

2 MOE currently operates 56 MKs, which offer a four-hour Kindergarten 1 (K1) and Kindergarten 2 (K2) programme for children aged five to six. Parents who require full-day service can opt for Kindergarten Care (KCare), which is provided by an external MOE-appointed service provider.¹

3 While the existing MK and KCare model has served children and families well, a more integrated full-day preschool service would better strengthen the children's holistic development and meet families' evolving needs towards a more seamless full-day learning experience for their children. In 2027, MOE will pilot the FDM at MK@Rivervale and MK@West View.² The FDM will integrate learning, play, and care together in a single full-day programme operated by MOE. This will provide the children with greater continuity in learning, more sustained interactions with MK staff to foster stronger relationships, and increased opportunities to further enrich children's learning experiences. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds will also benefit from a more seamless and supportive learning environment.

4 Learning points from the pilot will inform the implementation and progressive rollout of the FDM to all MKs from 2028 to 2030. At the start of each year's MK Registration Exercise in March, MOE will share the list of MKs implementing the FDM in the following year.³

Programme and Operating Hours for the FDM

5 Under the FDM, MKs will operate from 7am to 7pm on weekdays, during school terms and school holidays, excluding gazetted public holidays, MOE's designated school holidays and centre closure days.⁴ The FDM will be run by MK Educators and supported by MOE-hired MK Programme Officers, who will work alongside MK Educators to support the delivery of the FDM programme, as well as assist with children's care and supervision.

6 The MK curriculum, designed by MOE curriculum specialists, will continue to build children's confidence and social skills, lay strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, and prepare them well for Primary 1. The FDM will allow MKs to provide an even wider range of learning and play experiences, including:

a) Child-directed play in Mother Tongue Language (MTL) ("Spotlight" experience), where children can explore their interests and take greater ownership of their learning, inspiring their authentic and motivated use of MTL;

b) Open-ended outdoor play, with opportunities for children to engage in self-directed exploration and experimentation with open-ended play materials (e.g., hoola hoops, cones, planks, and tyres), helping them build physical confidence and resilience as they learn to navigate and assess risks within a safe and supportive environment; and

c) Hands-on learning experiences during the school holidays ("Delight" experience), to expose children to new ideas and ways of thinking through activities that incorporate STEM, drama, and visual arts.

7 Parents who do not require full-day preschool services can continue to opt for a half-day MK programme (7am to 12.30pm). More information on the FDM programme can be found at go.gov.sg/fulldaymodel.

Fees for the FDM MK Pilots

8 For the two MKs on the FDM pilot, parents will pay a single fee to the MK instead of separate fees for MK and KCare. The out-of-pocket (OOP) fees for the FDM after subsidies (Table 1) will be comparable to the current MK and KCare OOP fees combined, as well as the fees for the Early Childhood Development Agency's (ECDA) Anchor Operator full-day childcare centres.⁵ The fees for the subsequent FDM implementation from 2028 to 2030 will be shared when available.

Note 1: The monthly fees payable for SC children will vary after taking into account the applicable Basic Subsidy, Additional Subsidy, and MOE top-up subsidy. The actual fees payable will depend on the family's subsidy eligibility.

Note 2: Children are encouraged to attend the FDM activities during school holidays to benefit from the learning experiences. Where fees are required for learning journeys and external vendor-led programmes, these will be borne by parents. Subsidies will be provided for families who meet the relevant income criteria.

9 Families with SC children enrolled in the FDM pilot will receive fee subsidies for preschool programmes administered by ECDA under the Infant and Childcare Subsidy Scheme.⁶ This will replace ECDA's Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) and MOE's existing KCare subsidies. MOE will also provide additional top-up subsidies such that their OOP fees are comparable to their current OOP fees.

10 MOE will work closely with MKs, schools, and KCare operators to ensure a smooth transition to the FDM, and remains committed to providing quality and affordable preschool education that gives every child a strong start.

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Footnotes

1. KCare operates after the morning session MK programme to 7pm during school term, and from 7am to 7pm during school holidays. More information can be found here: www.moe.gov.sg/preschool/moe-kindergarten/kindergarten-care.
2. There will be 57 MKs in 2027, with MK@Rivervale, a new MK, enrolling its first batch of K1 children. For MK@West View, K1 children enrolled in the current four-hour kindergarten programme will be placed in the half-day programme under FDM in K2, while those enrolled in MK-KCare will transition to the full-day programme. Parents can decide whether to place their children in the half-day or full-day MK programme.
3. For example, MKs implementing FDM in 2028 will be shared at the 2027 MK Registration Exercise for the 2028 K1 cohort.
4. MOE’s designated school holidays include Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day, Youth Day, and the day after National Day.
5. Latest information on MK and KCare fees can be found here: www.moe.gov.sg/preschool/moe-kindergarten/fees
6. More information on ECDA’s subsidies can be found here: www.ecda.gov.sg/parents/preschool-subsidies/infant-and-childcare-subsidy-scheme/overview