# Preschools & Childcare in Downtown Core

Every childcare centre and kindergarten must hold an ECDA licence. Licences last 6 to 36 months, and a short licence signals a weaker compliance record. In 2026, anchor operators can charge at most $610 a month before GST for full-day childcare and partner operators at most $650. Singapore Citizen children get a Basic Subsidy of up to $300 a month, and means-tested Additional Subsidy on top.

## Key facts
- Listings: 32
- Matched to a government licence/register: 16
- Median years in business: 11

## Prices in Singapore
Government-supported anchor operators (AOP) and partner operators (POP) have fee caps. Private operators set their own fees. The figures below are monthly fees for 2026 before subsidies. Subsidies are deducted from the bill for eligible Singapore Citizen children.

| Service | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day childcare, anchor operator | S$610 per month (before GST) | 2026 cap, down from $640 in 2025. PCF Sparkletots charges $664.90 with GST. |
| Full-day childcare, partner operator | S$650 per month (before GST) | 2026 cap |
| Full-day infant care, anchor operator | S$1,235 per month (before GST) | PCF Sparkletots charges $1,346.15 with GST in 2026. |
| Full-day childcare, private premium operators | S$1,500–S$1,885 per month | Examples: MapleBear from $1,780, Kinderland non-POP centres $1,600–$1,885. |
| MOE Kindergarten (K1–K2) | S$160–S$320 per month | $160 for Singapore Citizens and $320 for PRs in 2026. Full-day KCare costs up to $425 a month. |
| Anchor operator kindergarten (half-day) | S$150–S$164 per month | $150 cap before GST. PCF charges $163.50 with GST. |

## Licences
- **Early Childhood Development Centre licence** (Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), required): Required under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017 for any centre that cares for or educates five or more children under seven for a fee. Licences run for 6, 12, 24 or 36 months depending on compliance. New centres start on 12 months. Check: https://www.ecda.gov.sg/beanstalk/parents-portal/parent-guides/understanding-your-childs-preschools-licence
- **SPARK (Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework)** (ECDA, optional): A voluntary quality accreditation for teaching, learning and leadership. It is a separate, higher bar than the licence.

## How to choose
- Look at the licence tenure on the centre's licence. ECDA gives 36 months only to centres that consistently meet requirements. A 6- or 12-month licence at an established centre means ECDA is monitoring it more closely. New centres start on 12 months by default.
- Compare the fee after subsidies, not the list price. A working mother's child at an anchor-operator centre pays $610 before GST, less the $300 Basic Subsidy, and less any Additional Subsidy for a household earning up to $12,000 a month.
- Subsidies only apply at ECDA-licensed centres, and the main applicant (usually the mother) must work at least 56 hours a month to get the full working rate. Non-working mothers get $150 a month.
- Use your Child Development Account (CDA) to pay fees, deposits and, since May 2025, approved enrichment charges at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions. Check the centre is on the list at go.gov.sg/listofais.
- Visit during the day and ask about teacher-to-child ratios, staff turnover and how long the current teachers have been there.

## Red flags
- A home or space caring for five or more children under seven for a fee without an ECDA licence. This is illegal.
- A centre that won't show its licence or tell you its licence tenure.
- Large registration fees or deposits that are non-refundable and not explained in writing.
- Frequent turnover of teachers or principals, which parents often mention in reviews.

## Listings (top 30)
- [The Little Skool-House International](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-little-skool-house-international-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 65 CHULIA STREET #02-02 OCBC CENTRE · 3 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 1994
- [Trehaus](https://lookup.sg/biz/trehaus), Clarke Quay · 109 NORTH BRIDGE ROAD #07-21 FUNAN · 4 min walk from City Hall MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2015
- [Happy Train](https://lookup.sg/biz/happy-train), Bugis · 87 Beach Rd, #05-01 Chye Sing Building · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT · registered 2010
- [Genius Hive Pre-School](https://lookup.sg/biz/genius-hive-pre-school), Raffles Place · 105 CECIL STREET #02-02 THE OCTAGON · 2 min walk from Telok Ayer MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2010
- [Da Little Preschool At Cecil Private](https://lookup.sg/biz/da-little-preschool-at-cecil-private), Tanjong Pagar · 105 AMOY STREET #01-00 · 3 min walk from Shenton Way MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2014
- [Quality Centres (Pte. Ltd.)](https://lookup.sg/biz/quality-centres-pte-ltd), Raffles Place · 138 CECIL STREET #01-01 CECIL COURT · 1 min walk from Telok Ayer MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2015
- [Superland Pre-School (100 Am)](https://lookup.sg/biz/superland-pre-school-100-am), Tanjong Pagar · 100 TRAS STREET #05-02 100 AM · 3 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2016
- [Mindchamps Preschool@One Raffles Place](https://lookup.sg/biz/mindchamps-preschool-one-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 1 RAFFLES PLACE #06-00 ONE RAFFLES PLACE · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2017
- [LeClare @ Shenton](https://lookup.sg/biz/leclare-shenton), Tanjong Pagar · 7 SHENTON WAY #01-02 SINGAPORE CONFERENCE HALL · 2 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2018
- [My Learning Haven (Suntec)](https://lookup.sg/biz/my-learning-haven-suntec), Bugis · 3 TEMASEK BOULEVARD #03-374 SUNTEC CITY MALL · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT · ECDA licensed · registered 2018
- [MindChamps Chinese PreSchool](https://lookup.sg/biz/mindchamps-chinese-preschool), Raffles Place · 105 CECIL STREET #04-01 THE OCTAGON · 2 min walk from Telok Ayer MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Mulberry Learning](https://lookup.sg/biz/mulberry-learning), Tanjong Pagar · 6A SHENTON WAY #03-01 · 2 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Agape Little Uni Cecil](https://lookup.sg/biz/agape-little-uni-cecil), Raffles Place · 101 CECIL STREET #01-01 TONG ENG BUILDING · 2 min walk from Telok Ayer MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Josiah Montessori - Suntec City](https://lookup.sg/biz/josiah-montessori-suntec-city), Bugis · 3 Temasek Boulevard #01-618 Suntec City Mall · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT · ECDA licensed
- [MindChamps Performing Arts International PreSchool @ Marina Square](https://lookup.sg/biz/mindchamps-performing-arts-international-preschool-marina-square), Downtown Core · 6 Raffles Boulevard Marina Square #04-100 MARINA SQUARE · 2 min walk from Esplanade MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Changemakers Academy Explorer](https://lookup.sg/biz/changemakers-academy-explorer-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 1 MARINA BOULEVARD #B1-01 ONE MARINA BOULEVARD · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Josiah Montessori](https://lookup.sg/biz/josiah-montessori), Raffles Place · 14 ROBINSON ROAD #05-01 FAR EAST FINANCE BUILDING · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · ECDA licensed
- [Kinderland Preschool](https://lookup.sg/biz/kinderland-preschool-tanjong-pagar), Tanjong Pagar · 7 Maxwell Road MND Complex Annexe B, #06-02 · 2 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · registered 1987
- [LeClare Preschool](https://lookup.sg/biz/leclare-preschool), Tanjong Pagar · 7 Shenton Way #01-02, Singapore Conference Hall · 2 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · registered 2014
- [My Learning Haven](https://lookup.sg/biz/my-learning-haven), Downtown Core · Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Blvd · 2 min walk from Promenade MRT · registered 2018
- [Lily Valley Preschool](https://lookup.sg/biz/lily-valley-preschool), Downtown Core · 6 Raffles Blvd, #02-27/28 Marina Square · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Josiah Montessori](https://lookup.sg/biz/josiah-montessori-downtown-core), Downtown Core · 3 Temasek Boulevard #01-618 to 620, Mall, East Atrium Suntec City · 1 min walk from Promenade MRT
- [Little Skool-House](https://lookup.sg/biz/little-skool-house-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 1 Marina Blvd, #B1-01 · 2 min walk from Raffles Place MRT
- [De Kinder Club](https://lookup.sg/biz/de-kinder-club), Downtown Core · 6 Raffles Blvd, #02 - 18 / 19 Marina Square · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [MindChamps Performing Arts Preschool](https://lookup.sg/biz/mindchamps-performing-arts-preschool), Downtown Core · 6 Raffles Blvd, # 04 -100 Marina Square · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [MindChamps Preschool](https://lookup.sg/biz/mindchamps-preschool-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 1 Raffles Place, Tower 1, #06-00 · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT
- [My First Skool](https://lookup.sg/biz/my-first-skool-downtown-core), Downtown Core · 6 New Punggol Road (Large Childcare Centre) - Opening in Q4 2021 · 1 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Hi-5 House of Learning](https://lookup.sg/biz/hi-5-house-of-learning), Tanjong Pagar · Keppel Towers, 10 Hoe Chiang Rd · 4 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT
- [Rosemary Hall Montessori Kindergarten](https://lookup.sg/biz/rosemary-hall-montessori-kindergarten), Downtown Core · No. 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Sq · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Kids Zone](https://lookup.sg/biz/kids-zone), Raffles Place · 11 Collyer Quay · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT

## FAQs
### How much is childcare in Singapore in 2026?
Full-day childcare at anchor operators such as PCF Sparkletots and My First Skool is capped at $610 a month before GST in 2026. Partner operators are capped at $650. Private premium centres often charge $1,500–$1,900. Singapore Citizen children get a $300 Basic Subsidy if the mother works, plus a means-tested Additional Subsidy of up to $467, so many families pay far less than the list price.

### Who qualifies for the preschool Additional Subsidy?
As of 2026, the Additional Subsidy goes to Singapore Citizen children at ECDA-licensed centres whose main applicant works at least 56 hours a month. Gross monthly household income must be $12,000 or less, or per capita income $3,000 or less for larger households. It is up to $467 a month for childcare and $710 for infant care, and lower-income families get more. The government has said the income ceiling will rise from 1 January 2027.

### What is KiFAS?
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) is a means-tested subsidy for Singapore Citizen children in half-day kindergartens run by MOE or anchor operators. It applies to households earning $12,000 or less a month (or $3,000 per capita). Published 2025 amounts range from about $19 to $163 a month, so it can cover most of the $160 MOE Kindergarten fee for lower-income families.

### How do I check if a preschool is licensed?
Every centre caring for five or more children under seven for a fee must have an ECDA licence. Ask to see it and check the tenure: 36 months for a strong track record, 24 for mostly compliant, and 6 or 12 for centres under closer monitoring (new centres start at 12). You can also look up centres in ECDA's preschool search on LifeSG.

## Sources
- ECDA: Understanding your child's preschool licence: https://www.ecda.gov.sg/beanstalk/parents-portal/parent-guides/understanding-your-childs-preschools-licence
- Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ECDCA2017
- MOE Kindergarten fees: https://www.moe.gov.sg/preschool/moe-kindergarten/fees
- MSF: Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme: https://www.msf.gov.sg/media-room/article/Kindergarten-Fee-Assistance-Scheme-KiFAS
- Income Insurance: Childcare subsidy 2025: https://income.com.sg/blog/child-care-subsidies-singapore
- ask.gov.sg: CDA use at Approved Institutions: https://ask.gov.sg/msf/questions/cm82u6ku800p38o8va2c2f64v

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.