1 Annual Factsheet On Ecdc Services. 2024. Early Childhood Development Agency. Target Beneficiaries: Up to 50 Total Funding Gap: $1,000,000 Target Outcomes: 70% KINDLE GARDEN by AWWA Ltd AWWA Kindle Garden (KG) is an inclusive preschool for children aged between 18 months to 6 years old. It seeks to provide all children – typically developing and children with additional needs – access to a values-based, inclusive, and non-discriminatory curriculum. Many of enrolled students are from low-income families. AWWA’s multi-professional team addresses social gaps by supporting early childhood education, and the community integration of children with developmental needs, families with complex social issues, the elderly, and persons with additional needs so that they may live out their aspirations. Demonstrated Needs Education is pivotal in supporting better social mobility and it begins in the developmental years of early childhood. To provide children with a levelled playing field to grow and develop together, while honing their individual capabilities from a young age, preschool education should be made accessible, the curriculum should be based on evidence-based practices, and fees should be affordable. As the number of children with mild to moderate developmental needs grows steadily over the years1, it is important that they receive an early childhood education that will keep them on par with their peers. Children from the N1 to K2 levels. • 30% of the children will have special educational needs, including Global Developmental Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, hearing or visual impairment. This will help fund trained educators and allied professionals, maintain small class sizes for personalised learning, and provide sustainable programmes and activities that support each child’s developmental and learning needs. Together, these efforts create a nurturing and inclusive environment where children of all abilities can participate meaningfully, thrive, and reach their fullest potential.
Programme The early years are a critical window for learning and development. It is during this time that children form their understanding of themselves, others and the world around them. When children of all abilities learn together from the very beginning, they develop empathy, respect and confidence, while recognising that everyone has unique strengths and valuable contributions to make. Inclusion in these formative years lays the foundation for a more compassionate, accepting and inclusive society. Children of all abilities learn to embrace differences, build meaningful friendships and grow up seeing inclusion as a natural part of everyday life. By investing in inclusive education today, you are helping to shape not only brighter futures for children and families, but also a future generation that will build stronger and more inclusive communities. Every Kindle Garden child’s journey is unique because they have the opportunity to develop, learn and grow with personalised learning plans. KG adopts the Creative Curriculum (CC) by Teaching Strategies whereby teachers work with parents to set goals based on what the children can do instead of what they cannot do. Besides the Creative Curriculum, KG incorporates goals from SPARK and the learning domains from Nurturing Early Learners (NEL, MOE). The whole KG Curriculum is centred holistically on the children, with emphasis on the social and emotional growth and learning of the children. Curriculum-based projects relating to specific topics were carried out across all classes, from those for 18 months to six years old. These projects catered to the evolving needs and interests of the children and foster curiosity.
“When David first came into our care in 2024, he relied on a walking frame and had no mode of communication. Despite his challenges, his diagnosis painted him as a child with a naturally joyful and excitable personality. Over months of dedicated bonding and support, I witnessed remarkable progress.” “Today, he walks independently and confidently changes directions—a testament to his incredible resilience and determination. David’s journey has been especially heartwarming. With the unwavering support of his parents, we've achieved milestones most people might think unimaginable within this short period of time.” ~ Teacher Shanaa Our story How Inclusion Education changed Rania’s Journey Kindle Garden’s pedagogy supports her transformation from a quiet observer to an active, empathetic, and engaged learner. Her journey embodies Kindle Garden’s mission: creating a fair, dignified, and caring environment where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Personalised Learning Rania thrives in hands-on, play-based learning, eagerly joining group activities like playground games, puzzles, and pretend play. Beyond academic growth, Rania demonstrates empathy and kindness - comforting peers in distress with gentle gestures and reassuring words. Many Hands Approach “I chose Kindle Garden for my son because we want him to learn to live in an environment which appreciates diversity from a young age. Through the work of the teachers and trained specialists, I am reassured that my son’s growth and development are also well taken care of, according to his needs” ~Meng Xian’s mother “My son has been in Kindle Garden since 2017, and it was a bittersweet moment to watch him graduate three year later. While I am happy to see him develop and grow over the years, I believe we will all miss the Kindle Garden environemtn from here on, because the team has been fantastic. Their love, kindness and patience really helped us through many situations and experiences. The other children are great too. They have been nurtured to treat all their friends as equals, they are always willing to help, and they have so much empathy. Seeing them in action at Kindle Garden gives me hope that our larger society can be inclusive in future, and it has taught me that we can all start by being kinder to one another” ~Tze Heng’s mother
Guided by our educators and supported by speech and language therapy, she now confidently communicates her needs through keyword signing and increasingly through verbal expression - skills that empower her to participate fully in classroom life. Low Teacher-Child Ratio Our educators provide individualised care and dedicated guidance without compromising on the quality of education through small groups, ensuring that all children receive the right level of care & support. Budget Category Description 2026 Core Programme Supports small class sizes at a 1:6 teacher-to-child ratio (vs 1:12 in mainstream), allowing for more personalised attention and learning support for each child. It also enables ongoing capability building through staff training in inclusive practices, ensuring educators are well- equipped to support children with diverse developmental needs and deliver high-quality inclusive education. $1,120,000 Maintenance Sustain the preschool’s daily operations by supporting essential costs such as rental of land and buildings, utilities etc. This ensures a safe, well-equipped, and reliable learning environment, enabling the preschool to continue delivering quality inclusive education for every child. $320,000 Ancilliary Programmes Support enriching programmes such as learning journeys, celebrations, and parent engagement activities that provide hands-on learning experiences, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen the connection between home and school, helping children learn, grow, and thrive. Throughout the year, children take part in meaningful celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali, Racial Harmony Day, National Day and Children's Day. These experiences help them appreciate Singapore's multicultural heritage, develop respect for diversity, and foster a strong sense of belonging within an inclusive community. Children also participate in learning journeys that extend learning beyond the classroom. These carefully planned outings provide hands-on, real-world experiences that deepen their understanding of topics explored in school while nurturing curiosity, confidence, social skills and independence. To ensure every child, including those with diverse developmental needs, can participate safely and comfortably, accessible transportation is arranged, alongside admission fees and other programme-related expenses. Parent engagement activities are another important part of our programme. By creating opportunities for families to learn, play and celebrate alongside their children, we strengthen the partnership between home and preschool. These shared experiences support children's learning and well-being, build confidence, and create a strong, connected community where every child can thrive. Your support helps make these enriching experiences possible. Donations contribute towards celebration materials, learning journey transportation, admission fees, programme resources and parent engagement activities, ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, explore and grow regardless of their abilities or circumstances. $100,000 Total $1,540,000 Other Confirmed Funds* ($900monthly fee x 50 childen x 12months) $540,000
Funding Gap $1,000,000 *Includes funds from government matching, grantee’s fund-raising and other private donors. The grantee may apply for any applicable government matching, but this is not guaranteed. School Fee Revision (From March 2026) $900 per month Kindle Garden school fee revision Kindle Garden, Singapore's first inclusive pre-school, has revised its fees to $900 per month, down from $1,800. This change aims to make inclusive early childhood education more accessible for families and children who need it most. The school maintains a 70:30 ratio of typically developing children to those with special needs. Despite operating at a deficit, the chief executive of AWWA, the social service agency that runs Kindle Garden, emphasizes that the school is a public service and not a business. The fee revision is part of a broader effort to improve accessibility to early childhood education in Singapore. Opportunities for Donor Involvement & Recognition Donors can be acknowledged on AWWA's social media and annual report. Donors can also volunteer at learning journeys for all children. Skill-based volunteers, e.g. music teachers, coders, yoga instructors, are also welcome. Learn more about Kindle Garden Kindle Garden Website: https://www.kindlegarden.com.sg/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kindlegardenpreschool/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KindleGardenPreschool Kindle Garden videos The Strait Times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6olnnAYh_c Kindling inclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MogIMlpL1Yc Kindle Garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uhSPReK0qs CFS Recommendation CFS recommends AWWA Ltd’s Kindle Garden due to its track record in delivering inclusive preschool practice for typically developing children and children with additional needs. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
CFS has thoroughly reviewed this programme and confirms that it addresses a clear need, utilises funds efficiently, has a feasible action plan and includes a robust results measurement plan.