For families with toddlers, the first school decision comes long before Primary 1. Pre-schools, which in Singapore include child care centres and kindergartens, are run by many operators, and their locations are recorded by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). This article counts ECDA's listings in the twelve neighbourhoods in our guides, sets them against the number of children who live there, and suggests a simple way to shortlist centres near a home.
We do not compare fees, curricula or quality here. Those vary by operator and change often; ECDA and the operators themselves are the right sources.
Two ECDA lists
ECDA publishes two location datasets that are useful for this:
- Pre-Schools Location, which covers pre-school centres in general. The version we used, dated 2024, lists 2,290 locations across Singapore.
- Kindergartens, a separate list of kindergartens. The version we used lists 448 locations.
Because the lists are maintained separately and updated at different times, their counts are not directly comparable, and a centre may appear on one list but not the other. We report both, by planning area, using URA's planning-area boundaries.
The counts
| Neighbourhood | Pre-schools (ECDA list) | Kindergartens (ECDA list) | Residents aged 0–14 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampines | 142 | 28 | 35,210 |
| Ang Mo Kio | 84 | 13 | 18,410 |
| Queenstown | 81 | 22 | 12,450 |
| Bukit Timah | 75 | 21 | 12,980 |
| Bukit Merah | 73 | 13 | 19,110 |
| Pasir Ris | 72 | 24 | 19,940 |
| Bukit Panjang | 56 | 8 | 20,650 |
| Clementi | 50 | 6 | 12,750 |
| Marine Parade | 50 | 18 | 6,730 |
| Downtown Core | 19 | 0 | 280 |
| Rochor | 11 | 1 | 1,320 |
| Southern Islands | 4 | 2 | 360 |
The children figures are residents aged 0 to 14 in the 2020 Census, the most recent full count by planning area. They are a rough guide to local demand, since pre-schools serve the younger part of that group.
Reading the numbers
Tampines has the most
Tampines leads on both lists, with 142 pre-schools and 28 kindergartens. It also has the most children of any area we cover, so the large number reflects demand as much as supply.
Bukit Panjang has fewer centres for its children
Bukit Panjang has a younger-than-average population, with 20,650 residents aged 0 to 14, but 56 pre-schools and 8 kindergartens on ECDA's lists. Measured against children, that is the lowest ratio among the HDB towns in our series: about 2.7 pre-schools per 1,000 residents aged 0 to 14, against about 4.0 in Tampines and 4.6 in Ang Mo Kio. Families moving to Bukit Panjang may want to check pre-school availability early.
Queenstown, Bukit Timah and Marine Parade have more per child
Queenstown (about 6.5 pre-schools per 1,000 residents aged 0 to 14), Bukit Timah (about 5.8) and Marine Parade (about 7.4) have more centres relative to their child populations than the outer towns.
City and island areas
The Downtown Core, Rochor and the Southern Islands have few centres in absolute terms, but very small resident child populations. In the Downtown Core, 19 pre-schools sit in an area with 280 resident children in 2020, so a ratio per resident child is not meaningful there. What matters for a family is whether a centre near home or near work has places.
How to shortlist a centre near home
Counts tell you about supply. A shortlist needs a few more steps:
- Map the centres within walking distance of the home using ECDA's own search, which shows location and operator.
- Decide what matters most to you: full-day child care or shorter kindergarten hours, language programmes, operating hours that match your commute, and whether the centre continues to the Kindergarten 2 year.
- Ask about vacancies and waiting lists. A neighbourhood with many centres can still have long waits at the popular ones.
- Think about the route to work. Some families prefer a centre near the office or near a grandparent's home rather than near their own.
- Plan the step to Primary 1. A centre near home keeps the morning routine close to the primary schools you would consider. Our P1 registration guide explains how distance affects Primary 1 priority.
Questions to ask a pre-school
Once you have a shortlist, a short visit answers most questions. These are the ones families most often find useful:
- Hours and holidays. Do the operating hours fit both parents' working days and commutes?
- Programme length. Does the centre run from infant care or playgroup through to Kindergarten 2, or will your child need to move part-way?
- Language. Which mother tongue languages are offered, and how much time is spent on each?
- Waiting list. How long is the wait for the age group you need, and when should you register?
- Transport. Is the centre on your way to work, or near the primary schools you are considering?
ECDA's own guidance for parents covers pre-school types and subsidies in more detail.
Why the location of a pre-school matters
For most families, the daily drop-off is the fixed point around which the rest of the morning is planned. A centre within walking distance of home keeps that routine short. A centre near a parent's workplace can make pick-up easier on long days. And a centre near a grandparent's home may be the most practical option for families who rely on extended family. There is no single right answer, which is why the counts above are a starting point rather than a ranking.
Pre-schools and the wider family picture
Pre-school supply is one of several measures that make a neighbourhood work for young families. Our family-friendly neighbourhoods comparison puts it alongside primary schools, polyclinics, parks and libraries for all twelve areas.
A note on the data
The pre-school list we used is dated 2024 and the kindergarten list was updated in 2026, so the two are snapshots taken at different times. Centres open, close and move. Before making plans, always check ECDA's current search and confirm details with the operator.
Frequently asked questions
Which neighbourhood has the most pre-schools?
Tampines, with 142 on ECDA's pre-school location list and 28 on its kindergarten list.
Which has the fewest pre-schools for the number of children?
Among the HDB towns in our series, Bukit Panjang, at about 2.7 pre-schools per 1,000 residents aged 0 to 14.
Are there pre-schools on Sentosa?
ECDA's lists include four pre-school locations and two kindergartens in the Southern Islands planning area.
Why do the two ECDA lists give different numbers?
They are separate datasets updated at different times. One covers pre-schools in general, the other kindergartens.
Which neighbourhood has the most kindergartens?
Tampines, with 28 on ECDA's 2024 kindergarten list, then Pasir Ris with 24 and Queenstown with 22.
Are there kindergartens in the Downtown Core?
ECDA's kindergarten list places none there, though its pre-school list has 19 centres in the planning area.
How many children live in each neighbourhood?
The 2020 Census counted about 35,100 children aged 0 to 14 in Tampines, the most in our series, about 20,600 in Bukit Panjang and about 20,000 in Pasir Ris. The Downtown Core had fewer than 300.
Which neighbourhood has the most pre-schools per child?
Among areas with more than 40,000 residents, Marine Parade, at about 7.4 pre-schools per 1,000 children aged 0 to 14.
Do you add the two ECDA lists together?
No. ECDA publishes kindergartens and pre-schools as two separate location lists, and we report the two counts separately rather than adding them together.
Sources
- Early Childhood Development Agency, Pre-Schools Location (data.gov.sg, 2024) and Kindergartens (data.gov.sg), counted by URA planning area.
- Singapore Department of Statistics, Census of Population 2020, resident population by planning area and age group (data.gov.sg).
- URA Master Plan 2019 Planning Area Boundary (data.gov.sg).