Stamford American’s Early Learning Village offers four Early Years preschool programs in Singapore for children aged 18 months to 6 years. Built on our Reggio-inspired teaching philosophy, each stage progresses from play-based exploration to the IB Primary Years Programme. Every classroom is purpose-designed for its age group, with daily language instruction in Mandarin or Spanish. An optional bilingual English-Mandarin program is available from Pre-K for deeper immersion. Below, you will find what your child learns at each level, the facilities they will use, and how to choose the right schedule.
Preschool Programs in Singapore: Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten 2
Quick Program Comparison
Use this overview to compare age ranges, schedule options, and class sizes across all four Early Years levels – from Pre-Nursery through to Kindergarten 2.
| Pre-Nursery & Nursery | Pre-Kindergarten | Kindergarten 1 | Kindergarten 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 18 months – 3 years | 3 – 4 years | 4 – 5 years | 5 – 6 years |
| Schedule | 3-5 days, half/full | 3-5 days, half/full | 3-5 days, half/full | 5 days, full day only |
| Class Size* | Up to 15 | Up to 20 | Up to 22 | Up to 24 |
| Teachers per Class | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Teacher:Child Ratio | 1:5 | 1:7 | 1:7 | 1:12 |
*Maximum class sizes. Actual class sizes may be smaller depending on enrollment.
Quick Links:
Early Years Schedules | FAQs | Book a Tour
Pre-Nursery & Nursery | Pre-Kindergarten
Kindergarten 1 | Kindergarten 2
Pre-Nursery and Nursery
(Ages 18 Months – 3 Years)
What Your Child Learns
Pre nursery in Singapore at Stamford American is often a child’s first experience away from their parents. Our teachers build a safe, caring relationship with each child before any structured learning begins.
The nursery curriculum is centered on the Creative Curriculum Routines and Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives – age-related goals tailored to each child’s pace. Learning happens through concrete, sensory-rich activities:
- Stories and books – daily read-alouds that build vocabulary and listening skills
- Music and movement – songs, rhythms, and dance to develop coordination
- Sand and water play – open-ended exploration in dedicated discovery spaces
- Food exploration – tasting, preparing, and talking about textures and flavors
- Imaginative play – dress-up corners, puppet theater, and role-play stations
- Art and mark-making – finger painting, drawing, and early fine motor practice
We recognize that every child develops at their own pace, and our teachers adjust activities to meet each learner where they are.
What is a Typical Day Like?
A typical day in Pre-Nursery and Nursery follows a gentle rhythm of play, exploration, and rest. Children move between indoor classrooms and their attached outdoor discovery spaces, guided by their interests and supported by their teachers. Mornings include circle time, stories, sensory play, and creative activities. Full-day students have lunch together followed by quiet rest time before an afternoon of music, movement, and outdoor play.
Watch a day in the life of Pre-Nursery and Nursery students.
Pre-Nursery and Nursery Facilities
Each classroom at this level opens onto its own discovery space with sand pits – connected by a child-sized door so little ones can move freely between indoor and outdoor learning. The indoor-outdoor flow lets children explore their senses in a safe, enclosed setting while building the confidence to investigate on their own. Age-appropriate playground areas and an air-conditioned indoor gymnasium are shared across both levels. Learn more about the purpose-built Early Learning Village facilities, or view our 360 virtual tours to explore the discovery spaces and sensory play areas from home.
Is Pre-Nursery or Nursery Right for My Child?
Children can join Pre-Nursery from 18 months old and Nursery from age 2 – they must reach the minimum age by the first day of school. If your child has not been in a group setting before, we can discuss options for a gradual settling-in period. Half-day and full-day schedules are available (see Schedule section below).
Ready to see the Early Learning Village? Book a personal tour and observe a classroom in action.
Pre-Kindergarten
(Ages 3 – 4 Years)
What Your Child Learns
Pre kindergarten at Stamford American is where structured inquiry begins. The IB Primary Years Programme is formally introduced at this level, with children exploring foundational concepts – form, function, and connection – through hands-on activities.
Our Pre-K program uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) – a teaching approach that gives children multiple ways to engage with content, so every learner can participate regardless of their starting point. In practice, this means:
- Choice boards – children select from multiple activity options, building independence
- Differentiated stations – teachers set up varied difficulty levels
- Small and whole group sessions – balancing collaborative and focused instruction
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) – teaching children to understand their emotions, build friendships, and manage frustration – is embedded in the daily routine. Morning check-ins help children name their feelings, build empathy, and develop the self-regulation skills they will carry through every stage of school.
A Suzuki-inspired music program begins at Pre-Kindergarten, with all students learning violin.
What is a Typical Day Like?
A Pre-K day balances guided inquiry with free exploration. Children rotate between learning centers tailored to the current unit of inquiry, with time for outdoor play, specialist sessions, and language instruction built into every day. Morning circle time sets intentions, and afternoon reflection helps children articulate what they learned and what they want to explore next.
Watch a day in the life of Pre-Kindergarten students.
Pre-Kindergarten Facilities
Pre-Kindergarten classrooms at the ELV each connect to a nature-themed discovery space designed for safe, guided exploration. Children work with natural materials – plants, water features, and sensory stations – that extend their classroom inquiries outdoors. Take a 360 virtual tour to see the Pre-K learning spaces and outdoor areas.
Is Pre-K Right for My Child?
Children enter Pre-Kindergarten the year they turn 3 (by the start of the school year). This is the level where the IB Primary Years Programme formally begins – making it an ideal entry point for families joining an international kindergarten in Singapore for the first time.
If your child is new to Stamford American, our admissions team can help you understand whether Pre-K is the best fit. Book a personal tour to visit a Pre-K classroom.
Kindergarten 1
(Ages 4 – 5 Years)
What Your Child Learns
Kindergarten 1 at Stamford American delivers the IB Primary Years Programme in full. Learning is organized around four units of inquiry per year – investigations that connect subjects and build conceptual understanding.
What makes KG1 distinctive is the range of specialist instruction alongside the core program:
- Suzuki violin – group violin lessons through the Suzuki method
- Swimming – 8 weeks of lessons per year in the on-site pool
- Daily language instruction – Mandarin or Spanish with native-speaking teachers
- Art, music, and PE – specialist-taught sessions twice weekly
Differentiation is central to KG1. Teachers plan for multiple ability levels within every lesson, using Teaching Strategies GOLD assessments to track each child’s progress and adjust instruction accordingly. Your child’s learning is paced to where they are.
What is a Typical Day Like?
Kindergarten 1 days are structured around thematic investigations that connect subjects across the curriculum. A morning might begin with a whole-group inquiry session, move into small-group literacy or numeracy work, and then shift to a specialist lesson – Suzuki violin, swimming, or art. Afternoons include language instruction, makerspace time, and outdoor play. The pace is purposeful but allows room for children to follow their curiosity within each activity.
Watch a day in the life of Kindergarten 1 students.
Kindergarten 1 Facilities
Each KG1 classroom at ELV is attached to a dedicated makerspace where children build, experiment, and create with real tools and materials. The makerspace supports the hands-on inquiry at the heart of the IB PYP – children move between classroom learning and physical making throughout the day. Take a 360 virtual tour to explore the makerspaces and specialist learning areas.
Is Kindergarten 1 Right for My Child?
KG1 is designed for children aged 4-5. At this level, children begin building leadership skills and collaborative habits that prepare them for the academic expectations of Kindergarten 2.
Both half-day and full-day schedules are available for KG1 (see Schedule section below). If you are considering a private kindergarten in Singapore for the first time, KG1 is a strong entry point – the IB PYP is well-established and specialist programs – Suzuki violin, swimming, daily languages – are part of the weekly routine.
Book a personal tour to see a Kindergarten 1 makerspace session in action.
Kindergarten 2
(Ages 5 – 6 Years)
What Your Child Learns
Kindergarten 2 is the most academically detailed year of the Early Years. Your child follows the IB Primary Years Programme through units of inquiry that integrate STEAM subjects – science, technology, engineering, art, and math – into connected learning.
The curriculum draws on established, evidence-based frameworks:
- Science: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – the same standards used in leading US schools – guide hands-on experiments and scientific thinking
- Phonics and reading: the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) phonics program – a structured, evidence-based approach to teaching reading – is paired with Fountas and Pinnell reading assessments to track each child’s level. Children participate in readers and writers workshop daily
- Math: Teaching Strategies GOLD objectives (measurable developmental milestones) structure numeracy instruction
- Social-emotional development: the Second Steps program teaches empathy, emotion management, and conflict resolution through structured classroom activities
Specialist lessons continue – Suzuki cello, art, PE, and Mandarin or Spanish language instruction daily – alongside these academic frameworks. The combination ensures children are not just academically prepared but socially and physically ready for elementary school.
Kindergarten 2 Facilities
Our Kindergarten 2 students will not just have age-appropriate playground areas, or an open-space indoor air-conditioned gymnasium to play with, but each KG2 ELV classroom is attached with a makerspace for children to freely imagine and create with their senses. Take a 360 virtual tour to explore the makerspaces and specialist learning areas.
What is a Typical Day Like?
KG2 runs on a full-day, five-day schedule that mirrors the structure of elementary school. Mornings focus on literacy and numeracy – readers and writers workshop, phonics, and math – followed by a unit of inquiry session that integrates STEAM subjects. Afternoons include specialist lessons, language instruction, and collaborative project work. The daily rhythm is intentionally more structured than earlier levels, preparing children for the expectations of Grade 1.
Watch a day in the life of Kindergarten 2 students.
Preparing for Elementary School
Kindergarten 2 is for children aged 5-6 – the year before Grade 1. If your child is already at Stamford American, the transition from KG1 to Kindergarten 2 is seamless. If you are joining Stamford American for the first time at KG2, our admissions team will assess readiness and help your child settle in.
This is a foundational year. The skills built in KG2 – early reading and writing, scientific inquiry, social-emotional development – set the tone for your child’s elementary school experience.
Book a personal tour to visit a KG2 classroom and meet the teaching team.
Early Years Schedules
Stamford American’s Early Years offers flexible scheduling from Pre-Nursery through to Kindergartent 1 (KG1) – choose half-day or full-day, 3 to 5 days per week. Kindergarten 2 (KG2) runs 5 full days to mirror the elementary school schedule.
| Level | Days | Half Day | Full Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery | 3, 4, or 5 days | 9:00 am – 12:10 pm | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm |
| Nursery | 3, 4, or 5 days | 9:00 am – 12:10 pm | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm |
| Pre-Kindergarten | 3, 4, or 5 days | 9:00 am – 12:10 pm | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm |
| Kindergarten 1 | 3, 4, or 5 days | 9:00 am – 12:10 pm | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm |
| Kindergarten 2 | 5 days only | – | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm |
Kindergarten 2 requires full-day, 5-day attendance. Half-day and flexible day options are not available at this level.
Flexible attendance patterns (Pre-Nursery through KG1):
- 5 days – Monday to Friday
- 4 days – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
- 3 days – Monday to Wednesday, or Wednesday to Friday
Half-Day vs Full-Day Guidance:
Half-day (9:00 am – 12:10 pm) works well for younger children adjusting to school for the first time. Full-day (9:00 am – 3:30 pm) adds afternoon specialist sessions, extended play, and rest time. Most families transition from half-day to full-day as their child settles in.
Browse the SSG Approved Course Names for our Early Years Program:
Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten 2 FAQs
What is the minimum age to start at Stamford American preschool?
Children can enter Pre-Nursery at Stamford American from 18 months old. They must reach 18 months by the first day of school. Nursery begins at age 2, Pre-Kindergarten at age 3, Kindergarten 1 at age 4, and Kindergarten 2 at age 5. Age eligibility is based on the school year – refer to our Grade Listing guide for more information.
What if my child's birthday falls near the age cutoff?
Your child must reach the minimum age for their level by the first day of school. Age cutoffs follow the school year calendar – refer to our grade listing by age guide for more details. If your child falls near a cutoff date, contact our admissions team to discuss placement options and readiness assessment.
What language options are available at Stamford American preschool?
All Early Years students receive daily language instruction in either Mandarin or Spanish as part of the standard curriculum, taught by native-speaking teachers. For families seeking deeper immersion, an optional bilingual English-Mandarin program is available from Pre-Kindergarten. In the bilingual program, Mandarin is integrated throughout the school day alongside English instruction, building natural fluency and a global perspective.
What curriculum does Stamford American use in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with learning organized around units of inquiry. The curriculum is supported by Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for science, the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) phonics program, Fountas and Pinnell for reading assessments, Second Steps for social-emotional development, and a Suzuki-inspired music program. Pre-Nursery and Nursery use the Creative Curriculum, while Pre-K introduces IB PYP foundational concepts.
Can my child attend part-time in Pre-Nursery or Nursery?
Yes. Pre-Nursery through Kindergarten 1 students can attend 3, 4, or 5 days per week, and can choose half-day (9:00 am – 12:10 pm) or full-day (9:00 am – 3:30 pm) schedules. The 3-day option is available as Monday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Friday. Kindergarten 2 requires 5 full days.
How does Stamford American prepare children for elementary school?
Kindergarten 2 is specifically designed as a transition year. Children follow a full-day, 5-day-per-week schedule that mirrors elementary school. Academic readiness is built through structured literacy (University of Florida Literacy Institute phonics, readers and writers workshop), numeracy, and Next Generation Science Standards. KG2 and Grade 1 teachers coordinate on transition planning.
What is the difference between IB PYP Kindergarten and standard kindergarten?
The IB Primary Years Programme structures learning around inquiry rather than rote instruction. Instead of isolated subjects, children explore units of inquiry that connect science, math, language, and social studies. At Stamford American, the IB PYP is paired with specialist instruction (a Suzuki-inspired music program, swimming, Mandarin or Spanish) and evidence-based frameworks like Next Generation Science Standards and the University of Florida Literacy Institute phonics program that go beyond what most kindergarten schools in Singapore offer.
What are the kindergarten fees at Stamford American?
Kindergarten fees at Stamford American depend on the number of days per week (3, 4, or 5) and whether your child attends half-day or full-day. For current fee schedules, visit our fees page or speak with our admissions team for a personalized breakdown.
See the Early Learning Village for Yourself
The best way to understand our Early Years is to visit the Early Learning Village. A personal tour includes a walk-through of the learning spaces, a chance to observe a classroom session in progress, and a one-on-one conversation with our admissions team about your child's needs and your family's goals. For families based overseas or unable to visit in person, our admissions team offers a live virtual tour - a guided presentation of the campus, classrooms, and programs tailored to your child's age group.
