Food allergies among children have been on the rise in recent years, making it crucial for preschools to be well-prepared to cater to their unique needs. Common allergens such as egg, cow’s milk, peanuts, and shellfish can pose serious health risks for young children.

Recognising this growing concern, My First Skool (MFS) has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of children with food allergies. Through a collaborative effort involving parents and educators, children with food allergies can enjoy a supportive and allergen-aware environment that promotes their overall development and happiness.

An Allergy Emergency Response Plan

Parents are encouraged to share medical memos from their child’s doctors detailing their allergies and the necessary steps to take in the event of an allergic reaction, as the information will be useful for teachers to make the necessary preparations and respond to these potential situations,” said NFC.

All 156 MFS centres also have an Allergy Emergency Response Plan in place. This plan outlines the steps that teachers should follow in the event of an allergic reaction. Immediate medical attention is a top priority, and teachers are well-equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise. First aid training is a mandatory course for all MFS educators, and the teachers will be able to administer first aid when necessary.

Photo Credits: Pexels

News Coverage

ST 16 Oct 2023

Picture: Channel NewsAsia

A Channel NewsAsia documentary delving into whether inequality is exacerbated in Singapore schools featured NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) Child Support Model, and how it closes the gap by enabling children from disadvantaged backgrounds to benefit from a quality preschool education.

Rita Lim, Manager of Learning Support at NFC’s Child Support Services Department shared how the Child Enabling Executives support the financially underprivileged through various programmes and resources. She added that NFC offers language learning and numeracy support to children, to enable them to catch up with their peers in academic development. The programme also featured one of NFC’s beneficiaries Mdm Siti Muhairah Binte Haizen, who shared how her three children benefited from preschool education at NFC’s preschools.

View the CNA Documentary below. (For the feature on NFC, please refer to time code: 15:49-17:11.)

Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, pose with award recipients at the event.

Five teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received the Outstanding and Merit awards at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.

At the symposium, 15 dedicated preschool teachers were recognised as recipients of the annual Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language (OPMTL) Teacher Award, and they were selected from a total of 163 nominations.

Ms Li Yinghua from My First Skool at Blk 245 Bishan received the ‘Outstanding Award Winner’ at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.

This is a list of winners from MFS:

1. Outstanding Award Winner – Ms Li Yinghua, My First Skool at Blk 245 Bishan

2. Outstanding Award Winner – Ms Noraini Binte Abu Bakar, My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive

3. Merit Award Winner – Mdm Lu Jinling, My First Skool at Blk 677 Hougang

4. Merit Award Winner – Ms Tian Aiping, My First Skool at 83 Punggol Central

5. Merit Award Winner – Mrs Uma Devi D/O R. Jayagumar, My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link

Ms Noraini Binte Abu Bakar from My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive received the ‘Outstanding Award Winner’ at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.

Jointly presented by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC), and the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC), the awards recognise preschool teachers for nurturing a passion for Mother Tongue languages among preschool children.

CNA938’s Stanley Leong sat down with Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of My First Skool (MFS), to discuss MFS’s specially curated menus which excite and expand children’s palates.

Recognising that the preschool years are the most crucial time in shaping one’s eating habits and food preferences, Ai Ling shared how the menu at MFS preschools is regularly refreshed to meet children’s nutritional requirements and introduce food from around the world to get the children looking forward to mealtime.

Ai Ling shared how meals prepared at each centre have little or no sugar, less salt and less fat. Vegetables are blended into children’s food or arranged in an eye-catching manner to draw the interest of our little ones and encourage them to try these greens.

At NTUC First Campus, we are committed to enabling bright futures for every child and their family. As we believe in the holistic development of our children, we devote significant time and labour to mealtimes.

News Coverage

CNA938 Radio (20 June 2023)

Local Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases have continued to rise in 2023, with 25 people seeking treatment at the clinics per day in March. While this may understandably worry parents of infants and young children, parents can take comfort in knowing that My First Skool has a set of standard operating procedures for managing HFMD and other common infectious diseases.

These include frequent disinfection of the preschool centres and daily health checks for children. In an interview, Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of My First Skool, said “Post pandemic, the management of infectious diseases is part of our new normal. We designed emailers and posters on the safety measures, to educate our teachers and parents, so that they can do their part without worrying too much about the disease. Our teachers also instil good hygiene habits in children and maintain close contact with parents to prevent the spread of HFMD together.”

News Coverage

Channel 8 TV News (23 March 2023)

Upskilling to make a bigger difference in children’s lives

Nur Afifah Rakif (middle), Deputy Centre Lead at My First Skool, posing alongside her colleagues.

Nur Afifah Rakif, Deputy Centre Lead at My First Skool (MFS), who is currently undertaking a Bachelor in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Education Leadership under the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Work-Study Degree programme was put in the spotlight this week.

Afifah’s determination to upskill herself was mentioned in Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s speech at the debate on the President’s Address in Parliament on April 17 and Straits Times also featured her in an article on April 25. Highlighting that learning must be a continuous journey throughout one’s lifetime, Mr Wong said Afifah exemplifies the spirit of lifelong learning and the value of reskilling and upskilling in pursuing one’s passions.

Afifah shared that working in the early childhood education sector motivates her to upskill and be a better teacher, due to the impact of the work she does. “I see it as giving back to the community and playing a part in shaping the future, as working with young learners will have an impact on Singapore’s future generation,” she shared.

She added that upskilling has given her the opportunity to understand herself better and figure out her strengths and areas to work on. “I think we shouldn’t be scared to venture out and do something new. There is no age limit to chasing our dreams. If you want to upskill yourself, it’s never too late,” said Afifah.

News Coverage

Straits Times Online (25 April 2023)

My First Skool’s original song aims to instil gratitude in children

Children from My First Skool perform the My First Skool gratitude song through a music video

During this year’s May Day rally organised by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), preschool children from My First Skool (MFS) performed a gratitude song titled “Thank You, Everyone” through a music video. In addition to thanking everyone who contributed to building Singapore, the children also expressed their gratitude to their parents, teachers, and friends. Everyday heroes such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, doctors, nurses, and preschool cooks were also recognised for their effort through the song.

The approximately 2 minute and 20 second-long music video, which features the children singing”Thank You” in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil, was specially produced by MFS and co-written by Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of MFS.

The song aims to instil gratitude in MFS children, a value critical in bolstering their social awareness and ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals so they become empathetic and responsible beings.

Watch MFS children perform the original gratitude song here.

News Coverage

Lianhe Zaobao Online (2 May 2023)

Lianhe Zaobao Print (2 May 2023): PDF below

孩童献唱感恩歌-感谢已故建国总理李光耀和团队

NTUC First Campus boosts inclusivity with new in-class Development Support Specialist programme for preschool children with developmental needs

Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development (in the middle), engages 4-year-old Evelyn Lai (far left, first row) in an activity sorting colours, alongside Ms Vishaalini Vasanthanathan, Development Support Specialist, Child Support Services Department, NTUC First Campus (far left, second row), and Oblena Angela Mari Zulueta, English Teacher, My First Skool at 49 Rivervale Crescent (far right, second row).

NTUC First Campus (NFC) has launched a new in-classroom Development Support Specialist (DSS) Programme designed to enhance inclusivity for preschool children with developmental needs.

With more young children being diagnosed with developmental delays, the DSS Programme aims to provide the necessary support and resources to help teachers better integrate children who require medium levels of developmental support into classrooms effectively.

This innovative programme is focused on children from Playgroup to Kindergarten 2 (18 months to 6 years old) requiring medium level of early intervention (EI) support. It includes those currently attending the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), those on EIPIC waitlist, as well as those who have yet to be formally diagnosed. For the last group, the DSS will also promote increased family involvement and offer guidance on obtaining a diagnosis when needed.

The Programme involves skilled Development Support Specialists (DSS) working closely with teachers during classroom lessons. These professionals offer hands-on help, making sure children get the support they need to succeed in preschool, while also guiding teachers to improve their classroom management.

Teachers with children requiring medium level of EI support will discuss these children’s profiles with the DSS. The DSS will then join the class to support and guide the teacher by demonstrating how to engage the child. Together, they will create a tailored strategy to address each child’s unique learning requirements.

The Programme commenced in January 2023 as a three-year pilot. It currently supports 60 children and 50 educators across eight My First Skool (MFS) centres. MFS is a leading preschool under NFC.

Recognising the importance of equipping educators with the right skills, NFC will also provide structured training for all MFS teachers. This training will focus on managing social-emotional needs and addressing behavioural concerns of children with learning challenges. It aims to empower teachers to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for all students.

Upon completion of the pilot phase, NFC will evaluate the programme’s effectiveness and consider expanding the initiative to more of its preschools.

“NTUC First Campus’s DSS Programme reflects our organisation’s commitment to fostering an inclusive preschool, and is our latest initiative aimed at enabling bright futures for every child. By providing tailored support for children with developmental needs as early as possible, and equipping teachers with the necessary skills, we hope to create a more inclusive learning environment that benefits all children,” said Ms Louisa Chng, NFC’s Chief Child Support Officer.

“I am heartened to see that NTUC First Campus shares our vision to give every child a good start in life, and thus, we see that NTUC First Campus has initiated the Development Support Specialist Programme. Besides supporting children with developmental needs, this programme creates opportunities for typically developing children to build their social skills as well as foster mutual understanding, acceptance of diversity and empathy towards others from a young age. I am confident that this will enable better learning outcomes for all our children. Together, let us make our preschools more inclusive and take the important steps towards making our society kinder, more gracious, and more inclusive,” said Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development.

News Coverage

• Straits Times Online (10 May 2023)
• Straits Times Print (11 May 2023): PDF below

• Lianhe Zaobao Online (11 May 2023)
• Lianhe Zaobao Print (11 May 2023): PDF below
• Shin Min Daily News Print (11 May 2023): PDF below
• Berita Harian Online (11 May 2023)
• Berita Harian Print (11 May 2023): PDF below
• 8world.com (11 May 2023)
• Berita Mediacorp Online (10 May 2023)
• Channel NewsAsia Online (11 May 2023)
• Channel NewsAsia News (10 May 2023)
• Channel 5 News (10 May 2023) (Time code 22:22 – 23:47)
• Channel 8 News (10 May 2023) (Time code 38:58 – 39:27)
• Channel U News (10 May 2023) (Time code 38:58 – 39:27)
• Suria (10 May 2023) (Time code 08:32 – 09:27)
• CNA93.8 (10 May 2023)
• Capital 95.8 (10 May 2023)
• Oli 96.8 (10 May 2023)
• Warna 94.2 (11 May 2023)

More-help-for-My-First-Skool-pre-schoolers-with-developmental-needs

职总优儿学府-新启发辅助专员计划-助发育迟缓孩童融入

Program-sokong-kanak-kanak-dengan-keperluan-perkembangan-di-prasekolah

职总优儿学府新计划-助发育迟缓孩童融入

New standard to help operators prepare safe and nutritious food for children unveiled at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road

Source: Straits Times

All major media platforms across print, online, TV and radio reported on the launch of the Singapore Standard 692 Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Services for Infants and Children, or SS 692, a collaboration between the National Healthcare Group, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and Enterprise Singapore, at My First Skool at 6 New Punggol Road. Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli was the Guest of Honour at the event.

Thian Ai Ling , General Manager at My First Skool, NTUC First Campus, stated the standard would serve as an additional source of reference for its educators and parents on nutrition for preschoolers and a useful tool when they are looking to cater meals for school events. “When we procure food services now, we would have to indicate the food requirements like low-salt because of the age group we are serving. But with the standard, we don’t have to go back and forth to explain what we need,” said Ms Thian.

News Coverage

1. Straits Times Online (31 May 2023)
2. Lianhe Zaobao Print (1 June)
3. Shin Min Daily News Print (31 May)
4. 8world Online (31 May)
5. Berita Harian Print (31 May)
6. Berita Harian Online (31 May)
7. Channel NewsAsia Online (31 May)
8. Channel NewsAsia TV News (31 May)
9. Channel 5 TV News (31 May)
10. Channel 8 TV News, Interview with My First Skool General Manager Thian Ai Ling, (31 May)
11. Channel 8 TV News (31 May)
12. Channel 8 TV News (31 May)
13. Channel U TV News (31 May)
14. Suria TV News (31 May)
15. Vasantham TV News (31 May)
16. CNA938 Radio (31 May)
17. Capital 95.8 Radio (31 May)

Lebih-bantuan-untuk-bayi-kanak-kanak-nikmati-makanan-selamat-berkhasiat

婴幼儿食品服务-将推出全新指南

助培养良好饮食习惯降低超重风险-新指南引导服务商提供孩童均衡餐食

At NTUC First Campus (NFC), we support children every step of the way, including helping them make the leap to primary school. While the Covid-19 pandemic and its preventive measures have limited children’s social interactions and thus negatively affected the social and emotional development of some children, NFC provides the necessary support and assistance so these children can still catch up.

Justine Ho, Lead Learning Support Educator at NFC’s Child Support Services (CSS) Department, observed that some K1 and K2 children feel uncomfortable when interacting with people outside their families, and are also unwilling to share things with others in the classroom.

Sharing the developmental milestones of children, Sara Xu, Psychologist at CSS, explained, “Children at the age of two should start imitating facial expressions or sounds of others; at the age of three, they should begin to have the ability to recognise facial expressions; and at the age of four, they should be able to play with other children.”

To ensure children hit their developmental milestones, NFC’s Classroom Support Programme (CSP) provides additional in-class support for N2 to K2 children with mild learning needs. Small group activities are conducted to reinforce effective learning in the classroom and prepare children for their upcoming primary school journey.

“In the post-pandemic era, NFC has also recently introduced socio-emotional modules that focus on improving school readiness for certain children in the graduating cohort so that they are better prepared mentally and emotionally for formal schooling, such as learning how to make new friends in a big school,” shared Louisa Chng, NFC’s Chief Child Support Officer.

News Coverage

Lianhe Zaobao Print (11 June)

后冠病时代-帮助孩童成长路上奋起直追-3