Our Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 Programme offers a unique blend of local and international curricular standards, while focusing on an investigative approach and higher-order thinking skills.

We believe in fostering a deep understanding of ideas and concepts to cultivate lifelong learners. In line with this philosophy, we have designed our Pre Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 Programme to align with Singapore's Early Years Development Framework (EYDF) for children from birth to 3 years old.

We stand by a holistic development approach, achieving a balance between academic advancement and social-emotional progress. This includes the child's ability to communicate (verbally and nonverbally) and express themselves creatively, as well as physical, social, and emotional well-being and early numeracy.

The Primus Schoolhouse Approach

Our programmes stand apart due to our commitment to holistic development, facilitating not just academic learning but also the crucial social and emotional growth of children. Unlike mainstream memorisation-focused methods commonly adopted in Singapore preschools, we promote a better understanding of concepts, enabling children to become lifelong learners.

By adopting philosophies from the Reggio Emilia approach, such as acknowledging the environment as the third teacher, we ensure a rich, engaging learning environment for toddlers. Our Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 Programme offers a comprehensive, globally aware, and experiential learning journey for your child, setting them up for long-term success in their academic journey.

Low Teacher-To-Child Ratio

A low teacher-to-child ratio in our Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 programme allows each toddler to receive individual attention and a learning environment tailored to their unique needs, promoting holistic development. The low ratio fosters children's social-emotional development, as they receive timely responses, nurturing trust, and security.

In a classroom with fewer students, teachers can closely monitor interactions, build strong relationships with each toddler, tailor activities to their developmental needs, provide immediate feedback, and adapt teaching methods. This personalised approach helps foster confident and enthusiastic learners with well-developed social skills and behavior.

Our educators receive extensive training to deliver our unique curriculum. They participate in ongoing professional development to stay updated on the latest trends in early childhood education and understand children's changing learning needs, promoting a culture of lifelong learning within our team.

Our Pre-Nursery/Playgroup & Nursery 1 Curriculum

Each activity in our programme is purposefully constructed to offer maximum benefit to children. Starting each day with breakfast not only fuels their young bodies but also teaches them about nourishing their body in the beginning of the day.

Inquiry-Based Learning Sessions Children continue developing curiosity and wonder about the world around them, learn problem solving strategies, and talk about relationships. Children gain confidence in their ability to acquire new information and increase their curiosity, creativity, and imagination.	Mindfulness and Wellbeing Children are taught mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises helping with stress management and concentration. This proactive approach towards mental well-being gives children tools to self-regulate their emotions and stay focused on tasks.	Aesthetics and Creative Expression Art, music, and movement, offer a break from academia and help broaden their learning horizons. Through these, children learn to express themselves creatively, develop fine motor skills, and learn about rhythm, pitch, and other musical concepts.	Show & Tell ‘Reading and writing', 'Show and Tell', and current affairs discussions foster improved communication skills, boost their confidence, and expand their worldly knowledge. This exposure to broader concepts aids in their socio-emotional growth and understanding of the world around them.	Language & Literacy Balancing English and Mandarin instruction throughout the day gives children a strong foundation in bilingualism. Being exposed to two languages at this age boosts cognitive development and helps them embrace multiculturalism better.

Every element of our school’s Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 Programme contributes towards nourishing children's overall growth and prepares them not just for the next academic year, but for life itself.

About Us

Why Primus Schoolhouse

Holistic Development

The balance of academic, creative, and wellness activities fosters well-rounded growth in toddlers. Alongside language, literacy, and numeracy skills, children enrich their creativity, motor skills, and personal well-being. Toddlers in Pre-Nursery to Nursery 1 are engaged in a variety of activities that help them grow in different ways, and it is all about having fun while learning, making friends, and becoming a smart, creative, and healthy little individual.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

For toddlers in Pre-Nursery and Nursery 1, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are like superpowers that help them understand the world around them. Through an inquiry-based learning approach, they get to explore, ask questions, and figure things out on their own. The inquiry-based learning approach promotes higher-order thinking skills. With critical thinking and problem-solving skills, they can find solutions and apply them to practical real-world situations.

Bilingual Proficiency

Singapore's diverse population is a microcosm of the world's various cultures. A bilingual learning environment (English and Mandarin) from young enhances cognitive development, prepares children for global opportunities, and promotes cultural understanding at an early age. At Primus Schoolhouse, we offer Chinese Immersion Programme (CIP) for students in the Pre-Nursery/ Playgroup and Nursery 1 level, tailored to meet the dynamic learning needs of toddlers and immersing them in Chinese.

Our CIP Programme

Social-Emotional Growth

Mindfulness practices and interactive, communicative activities such as 'Show and Tell' encourage children to express themselves, manage their feelings, and build relationships with peers. Through such activities, toddlers learn to share their thoughts, interests, and experiences, which boosts their confidence. It also teaches them to listen and respect others when it is their turn to listen.

Improved Concentration

The integration of mindfulness and breathing exercises into the daily curriculum helps toddlers to be more present and attentive to their surroundings. As toddlers are easily distracted and may find it tough to follow through with their actions, this improved ability to concentrate is valuable as it can help them better focus on various activities and tasks, both inside and outside the classroom.

Creativity and Expression

The inclusion of creative experiences like art and music allows children to explore and express their creativity. It also encourages emotional expression and instils an appreciation for the arts.

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Goals of Our Pre-Nursery/Playgroup & Nursery 1 Programme

Our Programme encourages creative expression in toddlers, leading to the growth of their creative abilities through activities like art and music. Additionally, children will have advanced their communication skills through engagement in activities like 'Show and Tell' and discussions on current affairs. The bilingual environment will have given them a solid foundation in both English and Mandarin, fostering cultural understanding and global readiness. Through the programme, children learn healthy lifestyle habits, beginning with structured mealtimes. Therefore, under this programme, children will have achieved a well-rounded set of skills, allowing them to confidently navigate academic and real-world situations.

By the end of this comprehensive programme in Singapore, children will have achieved a broad developmental skill set. The structured inquiry learning approach equips them with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Children will have also benefited from mindfulness practices, developing important coping mechanisms like stress management and improved concentration.

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Parent Testimonials

My daughter had a lot of fun when she was there. She enjoys the art and sensory. She was very shy initially and the teachers have boosted her confidence tremendously. We saw improvements on her and strongly recommend this school to others.	Mohammad Dzahir Primus Schoolhouse, River Valley
Highly recommended for your little ones! Our 2.5 year old attended a week-long holiday programme during her vacation from her regular preschool, just before Circuit Breaker.	Siva Gopal Thaiyalan Primus Schoolhouse, Bukit Timah
As the aunt of both kids, Noah and Joel, I can say that they enjoy going Primus Schoolhouse everyday as they learn through many activities with good value.	Rosaline Aquiman Primus Schoolhouse, River Valley
Great school to take your kids to! Staff are extremely friendly and accommodating.	Gerardo Pittaro Primus Schoolhouse, River Valley
Ms. Rochelle has helped our Son to improve his confidence in reading and telling the time. When he was a bit behind due to us going on holiday she took time to help him catch up and keep his confidence up as he went through the activities. Ms. Urenee is wonderful, caring and supportive, definitely one of our kids favourite teachers. She makes every effort to keep us up to date and takes excellent care of our daughter, building her self confidence. Ms. Sharma took time to research how to address certain topics with our Daughter and shared this research with us. She also took the time to speak directly with Cara, providing support, guidance and reassurance.	Alison, Parent of K1 child Primus Schoolhouse, River Valley

FAQs about our Pre-Nursery & Playgroup Programme

What age can my child start Pre-Nursery/Playgroup or Nursery 1 Programme in Singapore?

The age range for Pre-Nursery and Playgroup is between 18 months to 2 years old.

The age to start attending Nursery 1 is 3 years old.

Is Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and/or Nursery 1 necessary in Singapore?

It is not compulsory in Singapore to send your child to school until they are 7 years old. However, the Ministry of Education (MOE) highly advocates for preschool education for all children and many parents choose to send their toddlers to Pre-Nursery & Playgroup when they are as young as 18 months old and progressing to Nursery 1 at 3 year old.

How much are the school fees for Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 Programme?

Contact us for more information on the school fees for the Pre-Nursery/Playgroup or Nursery 1 Programme in Singapore. Send us an online enquiry here.

At which centre is the Chinese Immersion Programme being held?

The Chinese Immersion Programme for Pre-Nursery/Playgroup and Nursery 1 students is only held at Primus Schoolhouse @ Bukit Timah.

Is there an outdoor environment for my child in school?

Each of our centre have its unique features. In Bukit Timah, we have the largest outdoor play area, while River Valley offers an outdoor rooftop for kids to enjoy. In Alexandra, we do not have an outdoor environment, but we take the kids to parks on a weekly basis for outdoor experiences.

Where is the Parent-and-Toddler programme held?

The Parent-and-Toddler programme is held at Primus Schoolhouse @ Bukit Timah.

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Preschool Years Curriculum