Preschool (N1-K2)

Around 3 to 6 years old • Up to 4 years, not compulsory — only Primary school is compulsory in Singapore

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Year by year

N1You're hereAround 3	Childcare centre or Early Years Centre, enrolled directly with the operator. Pick an MK-partner EYC now if a guaranteed MOE Kindergarten K1 place is the goal.
N2Around 4	Enrol in a partner EYC by 15 March to guarantee a K1 place at its partner MOE Kindergarten; otherwise apply for K1 directly near admission time.
K1Around 5	MOE Kindergarten (4-hour morning or afternoon session, with paid full-day KCare) or a private or anchor-operator kindergarten.
K2Around 6	P1 Registration Exercise for next year's intake runs mid-year (typically June-August); Phase 2B volunteer eligibility must be built before it.

Not compulsory — only Primary school is compulsory in Singapore.
Run by ECDA-registered childcare centres, Early Years Centres (EYCs) and kindergartens, including MOE Kindergartens (MK) for K1 and K2. MOE Kindergartens are open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.

There is no centralised registration exercise: enrol directly with a childcare, EYC or kindergarten operator (e.g. PCF Sparkletots, NTUC My First Skool, E-Bridge Pre-school, an MOE Kindergarten, or a private centre).
Enrolling in a partner Early Years Centre (EYC) by 15 March of the N2 year guarantees a K1 place at that EYC's partner MOE Kindergarten; families outside an MK-EYC partnership apply directly for a K1 place near admission time.
MOE Kindergartens run a 4-hour/day programme, either a morning (8am-12pm) or afternoon (1pm-5pm) session, with a paid full-day 'Kindergarten Care' (KCare) wraparound option.
The Primary 1 (P1) Registration Exercise for the following year's P1 intake runs mid-year during K2 (typically June-August) — the pivot point most parents plan around.

Choosing a centre near home or a caregiver's workplace.
Whether to target an MK-partner EYC — and confirm its partnership before the 15 March cutoff in N2 — to guarantee an MOE Kindergarten K1 place.
MOE Kindergarten vs a private or anchor-operator kindergarten; morning vs afternoon session, and whether KCare wraparound care is needed.
Building P1 registration eligibility ahead of time (school affiliation, parent-volunteer hours), since Phase 2B eligibility windows close before the registration exercise itself.
Deciding which primary school to prioritise, informed by phase eligibility and the 1km/2km distance-priority rule.