After completing the in-house leadership programme with NFC in 2012, I was officially deployed as a Principal to My First Skool at Blk 18 Marine Terrace. Providing both infant care and childcare services, we are situated near a variety of amenities nearby; one of which is the Marine Cove Playground which is always the children’s favourite outdoor places to visit.

Since then, we have built a collaborative partnership with our parents and the community through regular engagements such as the termly Teacher-Parent Circle sessions as well as with the Goodlife elder care centre and more.

We believe that through such collaborations, it will strengthen the teacher’s capacity in designing a quality learning environment for the children and enhance their learning in meaningful contexts. This is evident through our participation in ECDA’s Innovation Grant Project Work, of which we were awarded with ECDA Innovation Award in 2012 and 2015 respectively.

As a KidSTART pilot centre, we also provide support for low-income and vulnerable young children. This is to enable them to have a good start in life. We provide various forms of learning support programmes for the children as well as parent education workshops for their families. Teachers received in-house training to equip them with strategies that will build an ‘ecosystem of support’ for the children too.

It has indeed been a humbling experience for the past years to inspire others and build learning communities for the children, families and the teachers here.