How To Set Up A Child Care Centre in Singapore

Singapore is known as one of the best countries to raise your children. On top of a competitive education system, Singapore is known for its security, cleanliness, and modern advancements that most countries are just envious of. 

This is why there’s a strong influx of child care centres popping up to accommodate the growing demand of local and foreign parents looking for a place their children can grow, play, and learn. 

In this article, we’ll talk about how you can set up a child care centre in Singapore. 

How Does Singapore Define Early Childhood Development Centre?

Child Care Centres Law, enacted in July of 1998, contains policies that govern the establishment and maintenance of a daycare centre or child care centre in Singapore. 

This law sets up various guidelines and requirements that allow individuals, both foreign and local, to establish Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC), or commonly known as child care centres. This law also appoints the Early Childhood Development Agency or ECDA as the governing body for the entire process. 

According to the Child Care Centres Law, an Early Childhood Development Centre is defined as:

“Any facility in which five or more children under seven years of age are being cared for and supervised during part or all of the day regularly.”

This definition includes the following establishments under the child care category: 

1. Preschool and Kindergarten – This category covers centres that provide preschool education and development programs for children aged 2 years and up to 7 years of age. This programme includes Playgroup, Pre-Nursery or Nursery 1, Nursery or Nursery 2, Kindergarten 1, and Kindergarten 2. 
2. Child Care Centre – Child care centres are focused on providing child care services, with the option of providing pre-school development programmes for children aged 18 months and up to 7 years of age. 

The ECDA requires all early childhood development centres to be licensed and follow statutory requirements for location, staffing, and others listed by the Director of Social Welfare. 

How Do You Open a Child Care Centre in Singapore?

There are eight parts to opening a child care centre in the country. 

A. Choose the Type of Child Care Centre

First you need to choose the type of child care centre you need to set up. Singapore has three categories for child care centres: 

1. Premium – These are private-run centres with unique teaching pedagogies, which will expose children to different learning experiences.
2. Anchor Operators – These are private-run centers but get funding from the government thanks to the Anchor Operator Scheme (AOP).
3. Partner Operators – These are similar to Anchor Operators, but instead, their funding comes from the Partner Operator Scheme

Premium child care centres end up being the most expensive centres, averaging at about S$2,000 a month while Partner Operators will cost you about S$800 (excluding GST).

B. Research the Child Care Business

The next step is to research the viability of a child care business before investing in it. If you’re a local in Singapore, take the time to visit a few centres (especially centres from different categories) and see how they are operated. 

You’ll also need to understand the costs of running the business, from capital to operating costs. 

C. Comply With Minimum Requirements

You need to meet the minimum requirements if you want to be an owner of a child care centre in Singapore: 

1. At least 21 years of age
2. Be Singaporean or at least a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR)
3. Both applicant and manager must have no existing criminal records
4. Teaching and non-teaching staff must have not received any warnings issued by the ECDA or Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSFD)
5. The centre must register the business in Singapore before they can operate and apply for a license

D. Choose the location

Your location plays a crucial role in your ability to acquire a license for your child care centre.

Your potential location needs to be approved by any one of the following:

1. URA or Urban Redevelopment Authority if the location is within a private residential/commercial site 
2. HDB or Housing and Development Board if the location is within a void deck/commercial site
3. SLA or Singapore Land Authority if the location is in State Land or Properties
4. NEA or National Environment Agency if the location is within B1 industrial premises or business park 

E. Registering the Business

Potential business owners will need to register their child care centre in Singapore. This is also required by the ECDC as proof that they own the business. 

Thankfully, the registration process for child care centres is straightforward and treated as any other business entity in Singapore. 

By default, businesses are incorporated through Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), but the following agencies can also facilitate registrations for child care centres: 

1. Registry of Societies (ROS) – for non-profit organisations
2. Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) – for organisations established in the name of a public character (i.e. politicians, actors, etc.). 

Child care centres registered through ACRA must match the name of their school/centre to their registered business name. 

Read more about company incorporation in Singapore by clicking this link.

F. Secure Approvals and Clearances

Once you’re done incorporating the business, you’ll need to apply for various clearances and permits as part of the licensing process from ECDA. 

You will need these clearances and more from the following agencies:

1. Ownership or Tenancy Agreement by HDB/SLA/Private Landlord
2. Approved Use by SLA/HDB/URA/NEA or relevant agencies (if required)
3. Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) or equivalent by BCA
4. Approved Floor Plan with Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) or equivalent by SCDF
5. Provision of Carpark Facilities by LTA
6. Clearance for Sanitary Works by PUB

G. Hiring and Registering Your Staff

A major requirement for license application is staffing. Teaching staff need to meet the minimum educational requirements set forth by the ECDA, along with your non-teaching personnel. 

You’re required to submit a roster of your teaching staff and non-teaching staff along with their certifications and qualifications. 

The ECDA will send out a Letter of Notification (LON) to these staff members that lets them know they’re approved to be a part of your centre. Otherwise, you can’t hire them.  

H. Apply for a Child Care Centre License

The last step is to apply for a child care centre license. The ECDA has three different licenses to choose from, and the applicant needs to select the type of license for the centre they have and the service they want to provide. 

You can visit Piloto Asia’s official guide for more information about setting up a child care centre in Singapore.

Photo by Tanaphong Toochinda on Unsplash

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