ABSTRACT
Recent years have seen changes in early childhood education and care in Singapore. Kindergartens and preschools in Singapore tend to be viewed more like a formal learning setting that prepares young children for primary schooling. This view has contributed to the community’s call for more quality early childhood education. In an effort to respond to this call, the Singapore government has implemented reforms in the early childhood sector. The aim of this chapter is to outline the historical overview of the early childhood environment, and recent reforms planned and actioned by the Singapore government in their aspirations to meet with progressive trends in child development. The implications of these reforms against the backdrop of Singapore’s competitive academic context are raised to show the challenges ECEC faces in embracing a holistic early education for children.
