Ages 18 months – 6 years
Whether your family is new to Singapore or your child is ready for their first school experience, the Early Learning Village is where it begins, growing with them from 18 months to elementary school. Stamford American’s Early Years programs follow a Reggio-inspired, inquiry-based approach built on the IB Primary Years Programme and American educational standards, in a safe, purpose-built facility designed exclusively for children aged 18 months to 6 years.
The Early Learning Village is Stamford American’s dedicated international preschool in Singapore, purpose-built for children aged 18 months to 6 years. The curriculum is Reggio-inspired, with daily Mandarin or Spanish language instruction as part of the standard program. The IB Primary Years Programme begins at Pre-Kindergarten – one of the few preschools in Singapore offering IB PYP at the Early Years level. An optional bilingual English-Mandarin track is also available from Pre-K.
Awarded 2025 HoneyKids Editor’s Choice International School of the Year, the Stamford American’s Early Learning Village serves families seeking a research-backed early childhood education from 18 months.
Children learn through play, inquiry, and hands-on exploration. Our Reggio-inspired approach encourages questions and independent thinking with classrooms designed to invite collaboration and discovery.
All Early Years students choose Mandarin or Spanish, taught daily by native-speaking teachers. For deeper immersion, an optional bilingual English-Mandarin program is available from Pre-Kindergarten, with Mandarin woven throughout the school day alongside English instruction.
The IB Primary Years Programme begins at Pre-Kindergarten (age 3) – earlier than most IB preschools in Singapore. Alongside American educational standards and The Creative Curriculum, the PYP develops inquiry skills and international perspectives from the start.
Learn how each program applies these principles in our preschool programs guide.
Starting school is a big step for children and families. At the Early Learning Village, each child settles in at their own pace with a familiar teacher and regular updates for parents. Most children feel at home within weeks, and our on-campus parent café offers a welcoming space to connect with other families new to Singapore.
At the Early Learning Village, a dedicated support team identifies and responds to each child’s developmental needs from the start. Specialists work alongside teachers to nurture social-emotional, language, cognitive, and motor development, with therapists available on campus for extra help. Using a structured framework, concerns are recognized early so support begins without delay. Learn more about student support services.
Located on Chuan Lane, the Early Learning Village is a purpose-built preschool in Singapore for children aged 18 months to 6 years. Inspired by Reggio principles, every space is designed at child-height to foster independence and exploration.
6 expansive ultraviolet-protected outdoor campus areas to spark discovery and experiential learning
Spacious rooms and secure sensory play areas
20-meter pool with adjustable lanes and resting benches for safe water activities
The Hive – an air-conditioned multipurpose gymnasium for sports and performances
The Early Learning Village also includes a dedicated parent cafe, a space where families can connect before and after drop-off and build community with other parents. Take a 360 virtual tour of the Early Learning Village to see our classrooms, The Shipyard, and Discovery Cove.
Building Confident, Independent Thinkers
Children who complete Kindergarten 2 at the Early Learning Village transition directly into Grade 1 at Stamford American’s Elementary School on the Woodleigh Campus – no re-application or entrance exams required. The IB Primary Years Programme framework runs continuously from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, so your child’s learning journey is uninterrupted. Teachers share detailed transition portfolios, and KG2 students visit their future classrooms before the move, making the shift feel natural and familiar.
From first steps at 18 months to kindergarten readiness at age 6, the Early Learning Village provides a seamless pathway through four Early Years levels. See what your child will learn at each stage, the facilities they will use, and how to choose the right schedule in our Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten 2 programs guide.
Visit the Early Learning Village on Chuan Lane and see Reggio-inspired learning in action. Explore our classrooms, outdoor discovery spaces, and specialist learning areas, and meet the educators who will guide your child's early years. Tours run weekdays during term time.
The Early Learning Village welcomes children from 18 months to 6 years across four Early Years levels: Pre-Nursery and Nursery (18 months to 3 years), Pre-Kindergarten (from age 3), Kindergarten 1 (from age 4), and Kindergarten 2 (from age 5). Children can join at any level, subject to availability.
Many families find that 18 months is when their child is ready for gentle social experiences beyond the home. Pre-Nursery at Stamford American is designed for this moment – small groups of up to 15 children with a 1:5 teacher-to-child ratio, a consistent teacher, and a settling-in process that moves at your child’s pace. Families can start with three half-days per week and increase as their child is ready.
Our program is Reggio-inspired and follows American educational standards through The Creative Curriculum and AERO (American Education Reaches Out – the standards framework for American schools abroad). From Pre-Kindergarten, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework is integrated. Student progress is tracked using Teaching Strategies GOLD across literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development. Phonics instruction uses the Heggerty and UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) programs, and the STEAMInn program – integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics, and Innovation – is woven throughout the curriculum.
All Early Years students choose Mandarin or Spanish, taught daily by native-speaking teachers. For families seeking deeper immersion, an optional bilingual English-Mandarin program is available from Pre-Kindergarten – see our Teaching Philosophy section above for details.
Reggio-inspired education sees every child as a curious, capable learner. At Stamford American, this means hands-on exploration, purposeful play, and classrooms designed as a “third teacher” – with open-ended materials that invite creativity and inquiry. It is the foundation of how we teach across the Early Learning Village.
Stamford American welcomes families from over 75 nationalities across the school. Children who arrive with limited English are supported through daily language instruction and a classroom environment designed around visual cues, routines, and hands-on exploration rather than language-dependent instruction. The Early Learning Village also has an on-campus parent cafe where families new to Singapore can meet other parents who have made a similar move.
Our Early Childhood team uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to create learning experiences that are accessible across a range of abilities, experiences, and home languages. Children who arrive with limited English receive daily language support and learn in classrooms designed around visual cues, routines, and hands-on exploration. For children who need additional developmental support, our Early Intervention team, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists work alongside classroom teachers from the start. Learn more about student support services.
Children completing KG2 transition directly into Grade 1 at Stamford American’s Elementary School on the Woodleigh Campus. The IB Primary Years Programme framework runs continuously from Pre-K through Grade 5, so the academic journey is seamless. Teachers share transition portfolios, and KG2 students visit their future classrooms before the move.
The Early Learning Village is located at 3 Chuan Lane, Gate 4, Singapore 554350 – separate from the main Woodleigh location. Purpose-built exclusively for Early Years learners, it features age-appropriate facilities, outdoor discovery spaces, and secure drop-off areas.
Preschool fees at Stamford American vary by age level, schedule (half-day or full-day), and number of days per week. For current preschool fees in Singapore, visit our fees page or contact our admissions team for a personalized fee estimate.
