The short version
- Partner Operator (POP) full-day childcare is capped at $650 a month (excluding GST) for Singapore Citizen children, down from $680 on 1 January 2026.
- Most working mothers receive a $300 Basic Subsidy, plus up to $467 more depending on household income.
- From 1 January 2027, the income ceiling for the Additional Subsidy rises from $12,000 to $15,000.
- From 2028, full-day childcare fees will fall progressively, reaching $150 a month by 2030.
What a POP centre may charge
Preschools in Singapore fall into three groups. Anchor Operators are capped at $610 a month for full-day childcare. Partner Operators (POP), which is what Little Treasures is, are capped at $650. Private centres have no cap at all and set their own fees.
Both caps fell by $30 in January 2026. ECDA renewed the POP scheme for a third term running to 2030, covering 380 centres across 33 operators.
The two subsidies
Basic Subsidy depends on working status: $300 a month if the mother works at least 56 hours a month, $150 if not.
Additional Subsidy is means-tested. Households earning $12,000 a month or less (or with a per capita income of $3,000 or less, for families of five or more) receive up to a further $467 a month for childcare.
In practice a working mother earning under $6,000 a month may pay close to nothing at a POP centre once both subsidies apply. Use the official ECDA subsidy calculator for your exact figure.
What changes on 1 January 2027
Announced at Budget 2026: the gross monthly household income ceiling for the Additional Subsidy and KiFAS rises from $12,000 to $15,000, and the per capita income ceiling from $3,000 to $3,400. Families earning $12,001–$15,000 a month will qualify for the first time — more than 60,000 families are expected to benefit.
National Day Rally 2026: the bigger shift
On 23 August 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set out plans to bring support for government-supported preschools closer to how primary education is supported.
- Fees fall from 2028. Full-day childcare drops progressively to $150 a month by 2030, and infant care to $300 — less than half of today's fees.
- Subsidies regardless of working status. Preschool subsidies will be extended to families with Singapore Citizen children whether or not the main applicant works.
- More childcare leave. Eight days for one child, ten for two, twelve for three or more, for children up to age 12 — up from the current six days. The Government will fully fund statutory child-related leave.
- SG Child Support Package. Up to $62,000 per Singapore Citizen child from birth to age 17.
Today about 80% of preschoolers have a place at a government-supported centre. The stated aim is quality preschool at fees families can comfortably afford, regardless of household income.
What this means if you are choosing now
If your household earns between $12,001 and $15,000, it is worth knowing you will qualify for the Additional Subsidy from January 2027 even though you do not today.
If you are weighing a private centre against a POP centre, the gap is likely to widen: capped fees are coming down while private fees are not.
Not sure what you would pay?
Come and see us. We will work through the subsidy figures for your family, and help with the application if you enrol.
Sources and currency
Figures verified 6 September 2026 from ECDA (POP scheme), ECDA (subsidy scheme), and the National Day Rally 2026 speech.
Subsidy rates and fee caps are set by the Government and change from time to time. Always confirm your own entitlement with ECDA.