My First Skool children show appreciation to workers in their neighborhood on Labour Day
Children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub distribute stalks of roses and handwritten cards to staff at FairPrice Xtra Nex Mall alongside Mr Seah Kian Peng (third from left), Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC. 12 children from My First Skool (MFS) at Braddell…
Children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub distribute stalks of roses and handwritten cards to staff at FairPrice Xtra Nex Mall alongside Mr Seah Kian Peng (third from left), Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC.
12 children from My First Skool (MFS) at Braddell Heights Community Hub distributed flowers, chocolates and handwritten thank-you cards to workers in the Serangoon neighbourhood on April 27 as part of a Labour Day initiative focusing on building gratitude in young children.
Together with Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC, the children presented their token of appreciation to retail staff at NEX, cashiers at NTUC Fairprice, bus drivers at the bus interchange at NEX and staff at NTUC Health Senior Day Care (Serangoon Central) and NTUC Health Rehab and Physiotherapy (Serangoon Central).
For the past week, the teachers have been teaching the children about the origins of Labour Day, and the various types of workers in Singapore. A total of 250 children across four MFS preschool centres designed the thank you cards that were distributed.
Children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub distribute stalks of roses and handwritten cards to bus drivers at Serangoon bus interchange alongside Mr Seah Kian Peng (fifth from left), Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise and Member of Parliament of Marine Parade GRC.
“Through this Labour Day initiative, our children at My First Skool get to learn about the various people and occupations around them who make their lives easy, and they get to interact with them as well. We aim to instil core foundational skills like relational skills in our children through this effort,” said Thian Ai Ling, General Manager, My First Skool.
Umar Bin Muhammad Firdaus, a Kindergarten 2 child at My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub shared that he chose to thank policemen for their hard work. “In my thank you card, I wrote ‘Thank you for working hard for us!’ to the police because they work so hard to catch the bad guys!”
Claris Lim from NTUC Health, a recipient of the little gifts from the children, expressed her delight at the gesture. “I am quite surprised and excited to have received the token of appreciation from the children of My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub. I never expected to receive a token from them, it’s my first time in my working life.”
NTUC First Campus’s Chinese Language teachers clinched five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition, including both the first and second prize
Teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning on July 8. From 220 entries, prizes for the top three entries and seven commendations were awarded. Of these ten winners, five were from MFS….
Teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning on July 8.
From 220 entries, prizes for the top three entries and seven commendations were awarded. Of these ten winners, five were from MFS.
This is a list of winners from MFS:
1. First Prize – ‘City of Happiness’ – Xie Yingying, My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive
2. Second Prize – ‘The Snail and the Whale’ – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan and Huang Xiaozhi, My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road
3. Commendation Award – ‘The Time Travel of Bookworm Hero’ – Xia Yuejing, Song Yoke Fong and Cheng Sisi, My First Skool at Blk 507A Wellington Circle
4. Commendation Award – ‘All the best, Little Rabbit!’ – Zhang Ge, My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub
5. Commendation Award – ‘Rainbow-coloured Flower’ – Kong Mei, Peh Peng Peng and Tian Lili, My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link
Xie Yingying from My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize for her storytelling aid titled ‘City of Happiness’. She is a two-time champion of the Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
The project ‘City of Happiness’ by Xie Yingying from MFS at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize. As she was once a graphic designer, Yingying incorporates art into teaching by creating children’s original picture books and designing innovative teaching aids with local elements. Inspired by her daily interactions with children, she designs original Chinese language storybooks as teaching materials. Using her original picture book ‘Red Strawberries, Green Strawberries’ as the theme, she crafted a four-layer “story stage” depicting the ‘City of Happiness’ using eco-friendly materials. The three-dimensional props she designed, such as flowers, trees, animals, insects, and local landmarks, are full of childlike and fantastical colours, with a fusion of Peranakan style. She also composed nursery rhymes to accompany the teaching aid, allowing young children to play and sing along while acquiring Chinese vocabulary.
“I hope to encourage children to care for one another, be grateful for their current happy lives, and strive to create a better home through stories,” Yingying said. She also won first prize in this competition in 2021.
Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road were awarded the second prize for their storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Big Whale’.
The team behind the second prize – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from MFS at Blk 487 Segar Road – created a storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Whale’. Children can arrange various marine creatures made of clay according to the plot in the book, and they can also listen to the correct pronunciation of vocabulary through a recording device and practise their pronunciation repeatedly.
NTUC First Campus clinched both first and second prizes at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition
Photo: Lianhe Zaobao NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) My First Skool (MFS) clinched both first and second prizes out of 235 entries at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition on July 22. The team from MFS at Blk 82 Circuit Road was awarded first prize for their lively performance and catchy melody as part of…
NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) My First Skool (MFS) clinched both first and second prizes out of 235 entries at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition on July 22. The team from MFS at Blk 82 Circuit Road was awarded first prize for their lively performance and catchy melody as part of their item titled ‘Reading Corner’.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Gao Meng, Chinese Lead Teacher at the centre, said that she loves to share interesting points from books with the children, who also find a lot of joy during the reading sessions. She sought inspiration from the reading corner, combining the highlights from all the books she read, for the nursery rhyme that she penned.
The team from MFS at 6 New Punggol Road received the second prize for their item ‘Shadow Friends’. During their performance, the children and teachers amazed the audience with various colourful shadows in a dark environment. Chinese teacher Zhou Yitong said that through regular interactions with the children, she noticed their interest in light and shadow when they went outdoors. “So we combined the children’s love for shadows and brought the play of light and shadow onto the stage,” she said.
Dr Connie Lum, Director of Mother Tongue Language Curriculum and Professional Development at NFC, who was one of the judges at the competition, said, “The performances this year are innovative, and the quality of nursery rhymes has also improved. In the past, we had to propose amendments to the nursery rhymes before they were presented. I hope to see more breakthroughs in the future, allowing children of different ages to perform nursery rhymes together.”
NTUC First Campus’s Bright Horizons Fund broadens the horizons of children from disadvantaged backgrounds through educational experiences
Bright Horizons Fund’s Chairman and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How (front centre, in green) poses with beneficiaries at a FAST event held at the Singapore Discovery Centre on 5 August 2023. On Saturday (5 Aug), about 510 preschool children from less privileged backgrounds and their families experienced life as a…
Bright Horizons Fund’s Chairman and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How (front centre, in green) poses with beneficiaries at a FAST event held at the Singapore Discovery Centre on 5 August 2023.
On Saturday (5 Aug), about 510 preschool children from less privileged backgrounds and their families experienced life as a soldier by pitching tents, cooking and sampling the food our Singapore Armed Forces soldiers eat in the field at the Singapore Discovery Centre. They also experienced an army obstacle course and went on a tour of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute.
These activities were part of the Families and School Together (FAST) event organised by NTUC First Campus (NFC) and sponsored by its charity fund Bright Horizons Fund (BHF), which enables children and families from low-income backgrounds to benefit from educational excursions and experiences.
This was the fourth and final FAST excursion in 2023, which was also attended by BHF’s Chairman and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How. Mr Heng was a volunteer at the event alongside more than 40 NFC staff. More than 1,500 children and their families have attended the previous three FAST events this year.
Fawwas Bin Fazlin, 5, (third from left) and Fathania Athiana Binte Fazlin, 6, (furthest right) enjoy Basha Tent pitching with other BHF beneficiaries.
“Bright Horizons Fund supports preschool children from low-income backgrounds holistically. FAST, a signature programme of the BHF, creates opportunities for benefiting families to go on educational outings. This is a good way to foster both family bonding and home-school partnership,” said Mr Heng.
By providing access to educational experiences these families might not otherwise get, FAST visits to places like the Singapore Zoo or Singapore Discovery centre enable children to broaden their horizons through being exposed to new ideas and experiences.
FAST field trips also bolster social and emotional development by providing families the chance to bond and strengthen their relationships by sharing experiences and exploring new environments together. Interaction with principals and teachers is also made possible through these field trips, strengthening home-school partnerships.
Adam Safiy Bin Muhammad Shamsuri, 4, takes part in the army obstacle course.
Started in 2008, the BHF helps children and families from low-income backgrounds, and also children with learning needs, through various support programmes. These programmes cover these three aspects to ensure holistic support for children and families: financial aid, health and well-being, and learning support.
BHF also constantly reviews its existing programmes to meet the evolving needs of children and families. To bridge the digital divide and build a more inclusive preschool community, the fund launched its ‘Digital Kampung’ programme to lease tablets to low-income families to enhance children’s learning and virtual parent engagement, and also ensure that children could continue with online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To expand its impact on children and families in need, the fund also regularly collaborates with external partners such as OCBC and CapitaLand to make preschool education more accessible and provide learning support programmes and learning journeys for preschoolers.
More than 37,000 children have benefitted from BHF’s programmes thus far, and more than $19 million has also been disbursed to families since BHF started in 2008.
“BHF will be mission-focused and ensure that every child with us enjoys equal opportunity to quality preschool education, regardless of background. This way, we give every child the best chance for a good future,” Mr Heng said.
Preschoolers from My First Skool and day care seniors raise funds for a good cause through creating beautiful flower pots
Guest of Honour Mr Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament and Group Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Enterprise (second from left) posing with two children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights and My First Skool’s General Manager Ms Thian Ai Ling (first from right) with their plants during the preschool centre’s fundraising event on…
Guest of Honour Mr Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament and Group Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Enterprise (second from left) posing with two children from My First Skool at Braddell Heights and My First Skool’s General Manager Ms Thian Ai Ling (first from right) with their plants during the preschool centre’s fundraising event on 19 August 2023.
Five-year-old Kieran Emmanuel Albuquerque squints in concentration as he carefully places a paper cutout on his elderly friend’s flower pot made using a recycled plastic bottle on Monday morning (14 August) at NTUC Health Senior Day Care in Serangoon Central.
This interaction between children from MFS at Braddell Heights and seniors at the day care centre next door has been a weekly affair since the launch of NFC’s and NTUC Health’s structured Intergenerational Programme in 2017.
Since July this year, their weekly sessions have focused on their fundraising collaboration where they create recycled flower pots to raise funds at today’s fundraising event for BHF, NFC’s charity fund. Besides the sale of recycled flower pots, the event included funfair booths for families to take part in. Mr Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament and Group Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Enterprise, was the Guest of Honour at the event.
Five-year-old Kieran Alburquerque from My First Skool at Braddell Heights decorated recycled flower pots with a senior from NTUC Health Senior Day Care at Serangoon Central on 14 August 2023. These flower pots would be sold during a fundraising event at the preschool centre on 19 August 2023 to raise funds for NTUC First Campus’s Bright Horizons Fund, which will benefit children and families from low-income backgrounds.
“As our young children engage with the seniors, their families, friends, and the community to raise funds for a good cause, they build relational skills through effective communication and teamwork, and build empathy and respect for others. These are skills that are greatly beneficial for their holistic development,” said Ms Thian Ai Ling, General Manager at My First Skool.
Lawrence Teo, Head of Senior Day Care at NTUC Health said, “At NTUC Health, we believe that our community as a whole can play a part in connecting generations. Through intergenerational activities, there is so much our seniors can impart to the younger generation by way of their personal experiences and life lessons. The young can also help seniors to reignite that spark of curiosity and excitement to learn something new and to live agelessly.”
Started in 2008, BHF helps children and families from low-income backgrounds, and also children with learning needs, through various support programmes. These programmes cover three aspects to ensure holistic support for children and families: financial aid, health and well-being, and learning support. More than 37,000 children have benefitted from BHF’s programmes thus far, and more than $19 million has been disbursed to families.
Preparing Your Child for Primary School – The Next Big Step
Transitioning to primary school is not an easy task – your child faces a new environment, new teachers, new classmates. Being primary school ready is not just about academics (being able to count, knowing colours, writing a sentence). It encompasses a wide range of skills which includes self-care, emotion regulation, social skills, etc. My First…
Transitioning to primary school is not an easy task – your child faces a new environment, new teachers, new classmates. Being primary school ready is not just about academics (being able to count, knowing colours, writing a sentence). It encompasses a wide range of skills which includes self-care, emotion regulation, social skills, etc.
Below are some tips on how you can help strengthen your child’s primary school readiness.
1. Start Early
As soon as your child reaches 4 years old, you can start preparing your child for primary school by talking about behavioural and school expectations. From Nursery onwards, lessons/activities are planned to develop your child in the six learning domains (Aesthetics and Creative Expression, Discovery of the World, Language and Literacy, Motor Skills Development, Numeracy, Social Emotional Development). This provides children with a well-rounded and strong foundation in different subjects, helping children to tackle new concepts with ease in primary school.
Do initiate daily conversations with your child and ask them to share what they have learnt in school. You can also encourage your child to be more independent with self-care tasks (e.g. dressing, eating, brushing teeth) and give your child opportunities to take the lead at home (e.g. simple household chores, packing school his/her own school bag).
Your child may experience mixed feelings or develop anxiety about transitioning to primary school. Give your child plenty of support and affirmation that starting primary school is fun and exciting. You may also read them children’s books about starting school to help them open up and share their feelings with you.
3. Build Social Skills
Our teachers would always encourage children to work and play harmoniously with different classmates in school so that the children get the opportunity to interact with children from various backgrounds. Encourage your child to socialise with children of similar age in the neighbourhood who may be going to the same primary school. A familiar face in school may help them feel more reassured when they are settling down in a new environment.
4. Develop a Routine and Timetable
At My First Skool, children follow a daily schedule that is specific to their class and is consistent throughout the whole week. With routines in place, children are more independent as they are mentally prepared for the next activity and they know what is expected of them.
Before transitioning to primary school, it would be helpful to start a new routine with your child such as adjusting their sleep schedule weeks before school starts. Do engage in conversations with your child about what would happen every day (e.g. getting ready for school, having lessons, taking the school bus). You can also explain to your child about the new subjects and what to pack in their school bag. Being familiar with a routine and time table would allow them to adapt better to the changes and reduce anxiety.
5. Visit or Take a Virtual Tour of a Primary School
Bring your child on an excursion to his/her new primary school and take a school tour. Explore the surrounding environment and guide your child on identifying landmarks near the primary school (e.g. bus stop, petrol station). To make it a fun and memorable experience, you may ask your child to draw out a map of their route to school when you are back home.
You can easily assess primary school virtual tours online and watch them with your child to familiarise them with the school setting.
As part of My First Skool’s Kindergarten 2 curriculum in Term 4, children would be able to name and identify the facilities in a primary school. During the virtual tour, you may engage in conversations with your child to find out what they are looking forward to or which are their favourite school facilities. This will help them to adapt better to the new environment and settle into primary school.
Why Choose NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool?
Preparing your child for primary school may seem like a daunting task, but My First Skool’s unique and high quality curriculum will ensure that your child develops into a confident individual, with a positive “I Can Do It!” mindset that will carry with them for life. Transitioning to primary school is going to be an exciting journey, with many new learning opportunities for your child!
Register now with My First Skool for your child to gain a holistic learning experience with us!
My First Skool Supports Diverse Developmental Needs through the Inclusive Support Programme (InSP)
Ms Rachel Lim, early interventionist at NTUC First Campus’ Child Support Services department (centre), is engaging two children in an activity at My First Skool at Block 406 Woodlands. Two My First Skool pre-school centres have rolled out the Inclusive Support Programme by the Early Childhood Development Agency since February 2022. Last year, 5-year-old Yap…
Ms Rachel Lim, early interventionist at NTUC First Campus’ Child Support Services department (centre), is engaging two children in an activity at My First Skool at Block 406 Woodlands. Two My First Skool pre-school centres have rolled out the Inclusive Support Programme by the Early Childhood Development Agency since February 2022.
Last year, 5-year-old Yap Jia Kai was attending MFS at Blk 347 Woodlands and his learning difficulties were picked up by his teacher. He was subsequently diagnosed with developmental needs, and was placed on the waiting list at the Early Intervention Programme for Infants & Children (EIPIC) centre.
In line with the government’s intention to advance inclusiveness in pre-schools to support children of diverse abilities, MFS at Blk 406 Woodlands was preparing to pilot the InSP by February 2022. Principal Andie Chia then got in touch with Jia Kai’s family to share about the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA) InSP, and Jia Kai soon joined the centre.
Since then, the cheerful child has been thriving in his new school. “The programme is very good. Jia Kai can now recognise all capital letters and small letters. He also loves to go to school,” said Mdm Wong Sit Wai, Jia Kai’s mother.
Fellow schoolmate Muhammad Fahmi Bin Muhammad Faizal also benefited greatly from the InSP at MFS at Block 406 Woodlands. Before the InSP was launched at MFS, Fahmi had to shuttle between his MFS centre and an EIPIC centre for more than a year.
“The InSP is very helpful because Fahmi can now do all his learning at the same place, and he will not be missing lessons at MFS. Previously, a bus would take Fahmi to and from the EIPIC centre thrice a week for classes, which is a lot of time spent on commuting,” shared Madam Nur Sa’adah, Fahmi’s mother.
Jia Kai and Fahmi are two of 11 children whose families have benefited from the InSP which is offered at two My First Skool pre-school centres – MFS at Block 406 Woodlands and MFS at Block 248 Kim Keat Link – which piloted the InSP in February 2022.
The InSP ensures in-school support for children requiring medium levels of early intervention support at their pre-schools. With differentiated teaching practices, the early intervention professionals and early childhood educators will plan and teach classes together, while tailoring the lessons to the children’s learning abilities. When deemed necessary, visiting allied health professionals will also provide specialist support to the children.
The two MFS centres have also set aside a room each for the customised sessions by the full-time Early Interventionists who support the children under the InSP.
“In line with NTUC First Campus’ (NFC) purpose of a bright future for every child and family, we are happy to be part of the InSP pilot. This programme enables children with developmental needs to learn alongside their peers in an inclusive environment, with the support of early intervention professionals,” said Louisa Chng, NFC’s Chief Child Support Officer.
“InSP does not only benefit these children and their families, but also the pre-school ecosystem. Typically developing children can build positive relationships with children of diverse abilities without compromising on their own development, and the early childhood educators also gain skills to better support children with developmental needs in their class.”
6-year-old Javen Chen is a typically developing child at MFS at Block 406 Woodlands who has relished learning alongside his classmates with developmental needs since the InSP was launched. “I am happy that Javen’s school has the InSP, which allows him to learn and play alongside children with different abilities. This initiative has helped him learn empathy,” said Javen’s mother, Mdm Peh Sing Ling.
Amy Soh is an English Lead Teacher at the same centre who has gained more experience and confidence in her ability as an educator. “I have picked up new knowledge, skills and strategies to better support children with developmental needs, such as using differentiated instructions from my lesson plans to engage them more meaningfully,” said Ms Soh.
“As a centre leader piloting this programme, I can positively impact various ecological systems such as children, their families and the larger community. Inclusion is a collaborative effort among stakeholders, it can never be left to schools alone to plough through. With this growing paradigm shift towards creating a more inclusive Singapore, it is vital to have services readily available and accessible to the children who need them,” said Andie Chia, Principal at MFS at Block 406 Woodlands.
Teachers at My First Skool Clinch 5 Awards at the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition
Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children at My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of this award-winning storytelling aid. The three teachers behind the project were awarded the third prize in…
Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children at My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of this award-winning storytelling aid. The three teachers behind the project were awarded the third prize in the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
Whenever there was a thunderstorm, the children at My First Skool (MFS) at Block 197D Boon Lay would run towards the windows to watch the rain fall. Noticing the children’s curiosity, teachers Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing built a storytelling aid to help the children learn about water. Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of the storytelling aid.
Teachers Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing at My First Skool (MFS) at Block 197D Boon Lay received the third prize in the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
This storytelling aid bagged the third prize at the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition on July 9. In addition, teachers at MFS received four Commendation Awards. There were a total of 300 entries submitted for the competition.
Organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning, the competition aims to encourage teachers to develop creative storytelling aids and teaching methods to stimulate children’s interest in listening to and telling stories.
This is a list of our awards:
Third Prize – Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing (My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay)
Commendation Award – Xie Yingying (My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive)
Commendation Award – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan and Wu Hong (My First Skool at Block 487 Segar Road)
Commendation Award – Leow Sheue Siew, Xu Yan Li and You Xin (My First Skool at Block 82 Strathmore Avenue)
Commendation Award – Huang Fang and Chen Feicui (My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link)
On its 45th anniversary, NTUC First Campus shares expansion plans to enable bright futures for every child
The organisation will offer more than 30,000 preschool places over the next 2 years to build fundamental skills of the future through quality preschool and child development services. Minister of Education Mr Chan Chun Sing is observing children building robots with recycled materials at the ‘Makerspace’ of My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road….
The organisation will offer more than 30,000 preschool places over the next 2 years to build fundamental skills of the future through quality preschool and child development services.
Minister of Education Mr Chan Chun Sing is observing children building robots with recycled materials at the ‘Makerspace’ of My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road.
As part of NTUC First Campus’ (NFC) enduring mission to provide excellent childcare services to young families in all neighbourhoods, the preschool operator will offer up to 4,000 new preschool places for children over the next two years, bringing the total number of preschool places to more than 30,000 across more than 170 preschool centres.
NFC has two preschool operators under its helm – My First Skool (MFS), which serves 22,000 children in 146 centres, and Little Skool-House (LSH), which serves 2,500 children in 20 centres.
NFC will augment the curriculum in its preschools to build foundational skills of the future in its children. Beyond strong fundamentals in core math and literacy, NFC will nurture three vital foundational skills for a lifetime of growth: relational skills; global citizenship; and digital intelligence skills.
Relational Skills MFS’ curriculum aims to nurture socially-adept, resilient and caring children.
For infants, its Relationships-Based Curriculum adopts a primary caregiving model to help young children develop a sense of security and well-being. As the children grow older, MFS enables them to develop relational skills through character building, while providing a cooperative learning environment where teachers and children learn with and from one another.
MFS will also increase the number of Intergenerational Programme at its centres to spur interaction between children and seniors through activities, allowing them to form ties and learn from one another. The Programme also inculcates values such as empathy, compassion and respect in our children. All MFS centres have the Intergenerational programme, which has been successful since its launch in 2015.
Minister of Education Mr Chan Chun Sing is interacting with an infant at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road.
Global Citizenship Our preschools inspire our children to understand their world and the role they can play by making a difference to the community. To inculcate a sustainability mindset in the children, MFS and LSH centres will encourage children to adopt sustainable practices beyond the classroom, and participate in national gardening initiatives such as Community in Bloom by National Parks Board. NFC’s Outdoor School Singapore (OSS) also takes children on adventure trips to Singapore’s various parks and nature reserves, enabling them to form a positive connection with nature and the world.
Digital Intelligence Skills MFS and LSH will feature Digital Intelligence in their preschool programmes starting next year, equipping our children with skills to navigate the digital world and enabling them to be creative thinkers of the future.
NFC believes that every child is unique and has different learning needs and preferences. Its educators are trained to give every child a meaningful and engaging learning experience in school. In addition, NFC offers a range of programmes to support children with learning needs, and continues to develop new programmes to meet new needs. Currently, NFC supports 1,800 children with learning and development needs every year.
Its team of 90 multi-disciplinary professionals, such as classroom co-facilitators, in-house therapists, learning support educators and early interventionists, supports children with diverse learning needs, and children from low-income and vulnerable families.
NFC is also focusing on growing the impact of OSS, which delivers outdoor learning programmes to both children in NFC preschools and from the general public. Its outdoor programmes enable children to develop attributes like resilience, responsibility and a sense of adventure, which are key traits that will help them navigate the complexities of a rapidly-evolving world. OSS aims to engage over 7,000 children on these outdoor adventure sessions in 2023, up from 2,000 this year.
“Founded in 1977 by the NTUC to support working families in Singapore, NFC has thrived in the early childhood sector and made a positive mark in the lives of many children and families. Today, we are still guided by our vision of providing a quality preschool education, enabling every child to develop the skills and qualities needed to have a bright future,” said Ms Chan Su Yee, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC First Campus.
NFC will partner parents and the Early Childhood Development Agency to realise its vision and implement its initiatives.
NFC announced these new initiatives on its 45th anniversary celebration at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road, which was attended by the Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing.
NTUC First Campus unveiled a new logo at its 45th anniversary brand launch event at its newest Large Childcare Centre at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road. Minister of Education Mr Chan Chun Sing (fourth from left) was the Guest of Honour at the event. The representatives in the photo are: (from left) Phyllicia Chew, Principal, My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road; Phoon Chew Ping, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NTUC First Campus; Ng Chee Yuen, Chairman, NTUC First Campus; Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister of Education; Chan Su Yee, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC First Campus; Esther Soon, Director (Sector Funding), Early Childhood Development Agency; and Thian Ai Ling, General Manager, My First Skool.
My First Skool’s early childhood professionals and centres clinched 5 awards at ECDA Awards 2022
A principal who guides teachers to create engaging learning spaces for children. An early years educator who goes the extra mile to visit parents whose child need additional support in their learning, and offer tips on extending the child’s learning at home. A preschool centre with a rich outdoor space for children to explore, inquire…
A principal who guides teachers to create engaging learning spaces for children. An early years educator who goes the extra mile to visit parents whose child need additional support in their learning, and offer tips on extending the child’s learning at home. A preschool centre with a rich outdoor space for children to explore, inquire and care for the environment.
These are three of five My First Skool’s (MFS) outstanding winners who were recognised at this year’s ECDA Awards 2022 award ceremony on October 29.
The ECDA Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Development recognises the exemplary achievements and accomplishments of educators, early intervention professionals, leaders and centres that have excelled in their teaching and learning, and innovative practices in the early childhood sector.
This is a list of our winners and finalists for the ECDA Awards 2022:
1. Outstanding Early Childhood Leader (Winner) – Ainul Farhana Binti Mohamed Bathurudin, My First Skool (2 Punggol Drive)
2. Promising Early Childhood Leader (Winner) – Ruzita Binte Zainuddin, My First Skool (Blk 612 Yishun)
3. Outstanding Early Years Educator (Winner) – Nur Azlin Binte Ramlan, My First Skool (505 Yung An Road)
4. Outstanding Centre for Teaching and Learning (Winner) – My First Skool (51 Fernvale Link)
5. Early Childhood Innovation (Winner) – ‘Outdoor Learning about Pangolins & Otters’ Project, My First Skool (Blk 180B Boon Lay)
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