Data on Literacy and Numeracy Performance and Family Backgrounds of Preschoolers Who Spend Over 40 Hours Per Week in Childcare

The Government does not track the number of hours that each child spends in preschool. Nevertheless, we note that more parents have been enrolling their children in full-day childcare over half-day programmes to balance their work and family commitments.

The Early Childhood Development Agency has introduced initiatives to equip preschools and educators with resources to improve the quality of care and education in preschools, to better support the holistic development of our young children. For example, we have updated the national learning and development frameworks for children from birth to age six, to guide preschools in designing learning environments and experiences that build on children's growing interests. Last year, we also launched the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK) 2.0, with updated SPARK criteria that focus on quality preschool experiences and children's holistic development.

Crucially, the efforts of preschools to support children's development must be complemented by that of parents, who play an important role as their child's first and most influential teacher. While the Government supports working families with access to affordable and quality childcare services, we also encourage parents to spend more quality time with their children. Parents can bond with their children through daily routines like dinner and bedtime as well as activities like play and reading. Employers also have a part to play, by providing a family-friendly work environment that supports their employees in managing work and caregiving responsibilities in a sustainable manner.