NTUC First Campus and National Institute of Education Study: Quality Learning Environment and Regular Attendance Are Key To Preschool Success

Singapore, 30 July 2024 – A landmark study by preschool operator NTUC First Campus (NFC) and National Institute of Education (NIE) shows that a quality learning environment and regular attendance are crucial for preschoolers’ success in terms of their active involvement in learning, academic performance and well-being.

The study, conducted between February and November 2023, measured development outcomes of 764 My First Skool (MFS) preschoolers across 17 centres at Playgroup, Nursery 2 and Kindergarten 2 levels in both academic^[1] and non-academic^[2] areas, as well as the quality of teacher-child interactions.

The study found that most My First Skool children at Playgroup, Nursery 2 and Kindergarten 2 performed at or above average^[3] in overall academic performance in three main areas - oral language, literacy and numeracy.

Furthermore, regular attendance at preschool (61% or more) was linked to improved overall academic performance. A higher proportion of children (38%) was classified as “above average” in language, literacy and numeracy if they regularly attended preschool, compared with a lower proportion of children (20%) if they attended preschool less regularly.

Attending preschool regularly as young as 18 months is positively associated with academic performance, and may improve children’s learning outcomes by the time they reach Kindergarten 2.

Additionally, the study revealed that a well-designed learning environment is associated with both a child’s learning experience and teacher-child interactions. Children exhibited the greatest involvement and well-being in learning corners through activities that encouraged self-exploration or interactions with peers. During learning corners, teachers also provided high levels of regard for children's perspectives through activity design and facilitation.

These findings will further enhance the curriculum design and pedagogy of MFS preschools and the quality of teacher-child interactions, to achieve the best results for children’s learning and development.

“At NTUC First Campus, creating a meaningful and engaging learning experience for every child is at the core of our mission. We achieve this through research and programme evaluation conducted by our in-house team and collaborations with esteemed institutions like the National Institute of Education. As one of the largest preschool operators, our established research and programme evaluation capabilities enable us to continually refine our curriculum and teaching methods, ensuring our pedagogy not only supports children's learning but also prepares them for success in primary school and beyond,” said Ms Coreen Soh, NTUC First Campus’s Chief Child Development Officer.

NFC will also be sharing these findings at early childhood education conferences to help more educators improve children’s learning and development at other preschools.

“We are happy to partner with NTUC First Campus on this purposeful and large-scale research project involving preschoolers of diverse ages and levels. The insights we have gained have the potential to significantly improve children’s learning outcomes both nationally and internationally,” said Professor Kenneth Poon, NIE’s Dean, Education Research and Centre Director, Centre for Research in Child Development.

NFC shared these research findings at the official opening of its MFS preschool centre at 6 New Punggol Road, with Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health and Member of Parliament at Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, as the Guest of Honour.