Average Waiting Time for ECDA-Approved Infant Care Places and Plans to Increase Number

32 Dr Shahira Abdullah asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the average waiting time for Early Childhood Development Agency-approved infant care places; and (b) whether there are plans to increase the number of infant care places to better support working mothers.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Parents may register interest in a preschool for their infants via the Preschool Search Portal (PSP), ECDA’s online self-help search portal launched in 2019. While we strongly encourage all parents to use PSP, this is voluntary and some parents may also directly contact their chosen preschools. Based on parents who have registered interest on PSP over the past year, the waiting times for infant care places range between a few weeks and a few months.

There is a range of factors that affect waiting time. For instance, parents may have to wait longer if they prefer to send their children to specific centres. In addition, parents may register their interest early without an immediate need for places as they have alternative arrangements, such as home-based care. Parents can also register their interest for multiple centres at the same time, regardless of whether their child is currently enrolled in a preschool.

Providing access to quality, affordable infant and childcare remains a key priority for the Government. We will continue to increase capacity, where needed, to meet demand for early childhood services. By the end of 2022, ECDA will develop an additional 1,000 infant care places offered by anchor operators, mainly in Planning Areas with upcoming HDB developments for new families. This does not include additional infant care places which may be developed by other preschool operators to meet local demand.