SPARK 2.0: A Journey of Excellence

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

We are thrilled to share that three of our Little Olive Tree preschools—Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, and Holland Village—have achieved the SPARK 2.0 Quality Certification. This milestone reflects our commitment to providing your child with an environment where learning is purposeful, joyful, and deeply meaningful.

What is SPARK 2.0?

SPARK stands for Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework, a national quality assurance framework developed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). It sets the benchmark for excellence in early childhood education across Singapore.

SPARK 2.0 evaluates preschools across key areas that directly impact your child’s learning experience:

1. Leadership

   SPARK 2.0 assess how preschool leaders drive excellence through: a. Strategic Leadership

   b. Curriculum Leadership

2. Staff

   a. Staff Management and development

3. Partnerships

   a. Open communication, parent involvement, community engagement

   b. Working together to support each child's development

   c. Building trust and shared responsibility for children's success

4. Quality Preschool Experience

   a. Supporting inclusion and transition

   b. Principles of pedagogy

5. Holistic Development

   a. Values, social and emotional competencies

   b. Communication and language

   c. Physical development

   d. Cognitive development

However, SPARK 2.0 is not just a checklist we complete once.

It is a living framework that shapes how we teach, observe, reflect, and continuously improve—so your child receives the best care and education possible.

Why SPARK Matters for Your Child

Achieving SPARK is not easy. It demands discipline, thoughtful planning, and a whole-school commitment to excellence. But the result is worth every effort.

Think of it like learning the piano.

At first, a child bangs out notes—one impulse per note. It feels scattered and tiring. But with practice, scales, and faithful repetition, something beautiful happens. By age eleven, the child plays with flow and feeling. The music carries them. They lean forward on the seat, fully alive—what renowned conductor Benjamin Zander calls “one-buttock playing.”

This is what SPARK does to a preschool.

When our teachers commit to planning, observing, reflecting, and adjusting—when they persevere through the early awkwardness—something shifts. The routines gain shape. The documentation gains depth. The classroom breathes differently.

Your child flourishes because the adults have grown.

One inspired teacher becomes another. And then another. Soon, the whole school leans forward—a one-buttock preschool, wholehearted and fully alive.

What This Means for Your Family

When you walk into a SPARK-certified preschool, you will notice:

1. Intentional Learning Experiences

Every activity has purpose. Teachers plan with your child’s developmental stage in mind, creating opportunities for exploration, problem-solving, and creativity.

2. Meaningful Documentation

You will see photos, learning stories, and observations that capture your child’s growth—not just what they did, but how they thought, felt, and learned.

3. Strong Teacher-Parent Partnerships

We communicate regularly, share insights, and work together to support your child’s unique journey.

4. A Culture of Continuous Improvement

Our teachers reflect on their practice, attend professional development, and refine their approach so your child benefits from best practices in early childhood education.

5. A Nurturing, Faith-Based Environment

SPARK wraps around our curriculum, routines, learning experiences, special projects, and parent partnerships. It helps us do ordinary things with extraordinary clarity—so your child experiences truth, beauty, and goodness every day.

A Journey We Walk Together

SPARK is not a badge we hang on a wall.

SPARK is a structure that keeps us accountable to excellence and ensures your child receives care and education rooted in best practice.

To our teachers at LOT Yishun, LOT Ang Mo Kio, and LOT Holland Village, we honour your grit, discipline, and heart. You have taken the long road when shortcuts were available. You have pressed through discomfort to build something better for children.

And to the rest of our Little Olive Tree family, this is the journey we continue together. Practicing our scales. Strengthening our rhythm. Leaning forward, one buttock at a time.

So that every child who walks through our doors finds a place where excellence is not an act, but a way of life.

Thank You for Trusting Us

Your child’s early years are precious. We are honoured to walk this journey with you—building a foundation where they can grow, glow, and thrive in a nurturing, faith-based learning environment.

Together, we are creating something beautiful-

Where children grow and glow.

*As of 20th November 2025, 3 of our centres have attained SPARK accreditation, with the rest of our centres still ongoing in accordance to ECDA's schedule.