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By Lim Ee Tuo, founding organizer of the Good Start Conference Five Years of Growing Together This year marks the fifth Good Start Conference, a ground-up Professional Learning Community for early childhood educators in Singapore. What began as a simple dream has steadily gained traction, and I could not be prouder of what it has become. Good Start is organised not by professional conference planners, but by passionate people who care deeply about quality care and education i

In the early years, a child spends a great deal of time with the people who care for and teach them. From infant care through childcare, those hours quietly add up. A child may begin their journey with us as a little baby, carried into the classroom in the arms of a parent. Over the years, they learn to walk, speak, make friends, ask questions, solve problems, disagree, apologise, try again and discover who they are. "And through all those little moments, their teachers are t

On this Teachers’ Day, I find myself reflecting on a simple question: "What does it really mean to keep a school going?" At first glance, it may appear to be about keeping classrooms open, programmes running, schedules organised, and daily operations moving. These things are important, but they are only the visible part of our work. What Does It Mean to Keep a School Going? Keeping a school going means showing up, day after day, even when we are tired. It means welcoming ever

Last Saturday, we gathered once again for the Teachers’ Dedication Service organised by the Christian Preschool Alliance. This was our eighth year holding the service. Every year, as we approach this event, the same question seems to surface: Should we continue doing this? There are always so many competing demands. Everyone is busy. There are urgent matters in our own organisations that need attention. And sometimes, it can be discouraging when something we believe is import

At Little Olive Tree, meaningful learning begins with seeing, listening and responding to children. A recent visit by Chinese language and early childhood education specialists gave us an opportunity to reflect on how these principles come alive in our classrooms. On 14 August 2026, just one day before the Singapore Chinese Language Seminar 2026, Little Olive Tree Holland Village had the privilege of welcoming a distinguished group of Chinese language and early childhood educ

What happens when educators come together with a shared belief that every child deserves to belong? At Little Olive Tree Ghim Moh, we recently welcomed educators from Farrer Park Primary School (MOE Kindergarten) for a professional learning journey centred on inclusive education. It was not just about sharing what we do. It was about working together, exchanging ideas and seeing inclusion from different perspectives. This is also why we value opportunities for our own educat

What if a preschool did not need to be big to offer children a big experience? Tucked away in the heart of Fajar, Little Olive Tree Fajar is a small preschool community with a maximum capacity of just 20 infants and 37 children. And that is something we value. Because when a preschool is intentionally small, there is more room for something that matters deeply in the early years: "Relationships" Our recent Fun in the Sun: National Day Special at Pang Sua Pond was a lovely ex

At Little Olive Tree Thomson, some of the most meaningful moments in a child's preschool journey happen when we come together as a community. Our recent Sports Day, held alongside our National Day celebration, was one of those moments. It was a morning filled with movement, laughter, encouragement and celebration. But beyond the games and activities, there was something else that made the day special: many different people came together to make it possible. Our preschool staf

National Day is more than a celebration of Singapore's birthday. For young children, it can be an opportunity to experience belonging, gratitude, community and togetherness through simple, meaningful activities. At Little Olive Tree Yishun, this year's National Day celebration brought children, parents, teachers and seniors together through art, music, movement, friendship and acts of appreciation. From an Infant class tent-painting activity with parents to classroom celebrat

Choosing a preschool is about more than finding a place where children learn letters, numbers and new skills. It is about finding a community where children feel safe, families feel welcomed and meaningful relationships are built. A strong preschool community gives children a sense of belonging from an early age. It creates opportunities for families, educators and neighbours to connect, support one another and celebrate milestones together. These relationships become the fou

Over the past few Saturdays, we had the joy of welcoming many families to our July Open Houses across our Little Olive Tree centres. To every parent, grandparent, and child who walked through our doors "Thank you". Thank you for taking the time to explore our learning spaces, meet our educators, ask thoughtful questions, and allow us to share a little of who we are. Choosing a preschool is one of the first significant decisions you'll make for your child. It can feel excitin

When the Way Forward Is Not Easy Leadership is often seen through decisions, plans, targets and outcomes. Yet behind every decision is a person carrying responsibility, hope, fatigue, uncertainty and sometimes discouragement. At a recent Leadership Moments Session, our principals and senior leaders gathered not to discuss operations or performance indicators, but to listen to one another. Each person brought an object that represented her current season of leadership. "The o

Racial Harmony Day helps preschool children appreciate Singapore's multicultural society by encouraging respect, empathy and friendship across different cultures and communities. Through meaningful experiences and shared activities, children learn that diversity is something to celebrate. Today, our Little Olive Tree community experienced something quietly historic. At The Chinese Kindergarten, we celebrated Racial Harmony Day together with our friends from Ar-Raudhah Mosque

How Writing Really Begins A walk through a preschool can reveal a lot about how children grow. Step into a K2 classroom and you might see children carefully forming letters, writing sentences or completing literacy activities. The familiar rhythm of pencil on paper is often what parents associate with learning to write. Step into one of our younger classrooms and the picture looks very different. Instead of worksheets, little hands are busy threading beads, building with bloc

A Small Team. A Big Presence. Little Olive Tree at the Presbyterian Church in Singapore’s 145th Anniversary Celebration The 145th Anniversary Celebration of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium was a joyful gathering of thousands of Presbyterians from churches across the island. While Little Olive Tree’s team was relatively small, we were thankful that our presence was deeply felt. As part of the celebration, Little Olive Tree prepared and di

Infants play with everyday materials such as ice and ribbons because sensory exploration helps them learn about the world. Through touch, movement, temperature, texture and colour, babies develop brain connections that support cognitive, physical and language development. At Little Olive Tree Preschools, these simple materials become meaningful learning experiences through our P.E.A.R. Curriculum. "Because learning begins with everyday moments." To an adult, it may look wond

Little Olive Tree (Ang Mo Kio) was privileged to host Ms. Yannie Soo, Senior Lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), for a professional attachment from 8–19 June 2026. This impactful initiative by NIEC allowed its lecturer to be attached to our centre to better understand our practices, while also giving us a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the consistent work our educators do each day. What is UDL? UDL is a framework that helps educato

Singapore oldest's kindergarten - The Chinese Kindergarten

"If children spend most of their preschool years playing, will they really be ready for Primary School?" It's a question many parents quietly carry. Perhaps you've wondered the same thing. After all, when we think of learning, we often picture children sitting at desks, completing worksheets or memorising facts. Learning feels structured and serious. Play, on the other hand, feels... well, like play. So when we hear the phrase "learning through play," it's natural to wonder:

The classrooms were unusually quiet. There were no children building towers, painting masterpieces, or gathering for story time. Instead, the spaces were filled with educators. They walked through learning environments, exchanged ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and reflected together on everyday practice. Across all 18 Little Olive Tree Preschools, our Network Learning Day brought educators together with one purpose: to learn from one another. Because no single preschool h