Development Support and Learning Support Programmes in Anchor Operator Pre-schools

6 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what percentage of anchor operator pre-schools currently have the Development Support and Learning Support (DS and LS) programmes; and (b) what are the Early Childhood Development Agency's (EDCA) plans to introduce the DS and LS programmes to more anchor operators.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The number of preschools offering the Development Support (DS) and Learning Support (LS) programme has increased by 60% from 350 preschools in 2017 to about 550 preschools today. Of these preschools offering the DS-LS programme, about 400 are Anchor Operator (AOP) preschools.

Today, all of the AOPs are DS-LS providers who have or will have their own team of in-house Learning Support Educators. This enables the AOPs to better expand the delivery of the DS-LS programmes in their centres.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (EDCA) is working closely with the AOPs and other preschool operators to make the DS-LS programme available at more preschools. ECDA provides funding to preschools which are DS-LS providers, to train their Learning Support Educators and procure therapy services. These preschools are also supported with a Place-and-Train programme to facilitate the training of more in-house Learning Support Educators.