Sending your child to a quality preschool in Singapore is one of the most important investments you can make in their early years — but the costs can feel daunting, especially for young families just starting out. The good news is that the Singapore government has put in place a robust framework of childcare subsidies designed to make early childhood education genuinely accessible, regardless of household income.

Whether your child is in an infant care centre, a full-day childcare programme, or a kindergarten, there is likely a subsidy scheme that applies to your family. The three main pillars of support are the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), the Additional Infant Care Subsidy (AICS), and the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS). Each scheme works differently, targets different age groups, and has its own eligibility criteria.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know — in plain, straightforward language — so you can understand what you are entitled to, how to apply, and how to make the most of the support available to your family.

What Are Childcare Subsidies in Singapore?

Childcare subsidies in Singapore are government grants that reduce the monthly fees parents pay for their children's early childhood programmes. They are administered primarily by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and are available at ECDA-licensed and anchor operator preschools across the island. These subsidies are means-tested, meaning the amount you receive generally depends on your household income — families with lower incomes receive more support. Importantly, subsidies are applied directly at the point of billing, so you simply pay the reduced amount each month without needing to claim reimbursements.

It is worth noting that subsidies are only applicable at ECDA-licensed childcare centres and approved preschools. When choosing a preschool for your child, checking that the centre is licensed and participates in these subsidy schemes is an important first step.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS): The Foundation Support

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the primary subsidy scheme for children enrolled in licensed childcare centres. It applies to children from infancy through to six years old and covers both infant care and childcare programmes. The CCS is divided into two components: the Basic Subsidy and the Additional Subsidy.

Basic Subsidy

The Basic Subsidy is available to all Singapore Citizen children enrolled in a licensed full-day or half-day childcare programme, provided that the mother is working (or is self-employed, studying, or has other extenuating circumstances). For children in childcare programmes (aged 18 months to 6 years), the Basic Subsidy is up to $300 per month. For children in infant care programmes (aged 2 to 18 months), the Basic Subsidy is up to $600 per month.

In households where the mother is not working, a lower Basic Subsidy may still apply — typically up to $150 per month for childcare and $150 per month for infant care — acknowledging that childcare needs can arise in various family circumstances.

Additional Subsidy

On top of the Basic Subsidy, families with a monthly per capita household income (PCI) of $12,000 or below may qualify for the Additional Subsidy. This component is means-tested on a sliding scale: the lower the household income, the higher the additional support. Families earning a PCI of $1,500 or below can receive the maximum Additional Subsidy, which can significantly bring down monthly fees.

The combined effect of the Basic and Additional Subsidies means that many lower-income families end up paying very little — sometimes as low as $3 per day for a full-day childcare place. This makes quality preschool education genuinely within reach for families across all income brackets.

Who Is Eligible for CCS?

To qualify for the Child Care Subsidy, you will need to meet the following conditions:

• Your child must be a Singapore Citizen
• Your child must be enrolled in an ECDA-licensed childcare centre
• At least one parent must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
• The mother (or single father) must be working, self-employed, studying, or have an approved exemption
• For the Additional Subsidy, monthly per capita household income must be $12,000 or below

Non-citizen children and children of Permanent Residents are not eligible for CCS, though they may still benefit from anchor operator pricing structures that help keep fees reasonable.

Additional Support for Infants: Understanding AICS

Infant care in Singapore tends to be more expensive than childcare for older children, given the higher staffing ratios and specialised care required for babies. To help offset this, the government introduced the Additional Infant Care Subsidy (AICS) specifically for lower-income families with children in infant care.

The AICS is available on top of the CCS Basic Subsidy for families with a monthly household income of $7,500 or below (or a per capita income of $1,875 or below). Eligible families can receive an additional subsidy of up to $467 per month, bringing total subsidy support to well over $1,000 per month for qualifying infant care enrolments. The combined CCS Basic Subsidy and AICS can make infant care far more affordable than many parents initially expect.

To receive AICS, parents must apply through the LifeSG app or the MSF Social Service Offices, and the child must be enrolled at an ECDA-licensed infant care centre. This subsidy is not automatically applied — it does require a separate application, so it is worth checking your eligibility early when planning your child's infant care arrangements.

Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)

For families with children in kindergarten programmes (typically K1 and K2, ages 5 to 6), the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) provides targeted support. KiFAS is available at MOE Kindergartens and participating anchor operator kindergartens, and it is specifically designed to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent any child from accessing quality pre-school education in their final years before primary school.

Unlike CCS, which is administered by ECDA, KiFAS is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is a grant rather than a subsidy, and in some cases it can cover the full cost of kindergarten fees for eligible families, making it one of the most generous forms of early childhood financial support available in Singapore.

KiFAS Eligibility and How Much You Can Receive

KiFAS is open to Singapore Citizen children enrolled in MOE Kindergartens or eligible anchor operator kindergartens. The scheme is means-tested based on the family's gross monthly household income (GHI):

• Families with a GHI of $3,000 or below (or a per capita income of $750 or below) may receive full fee coverage
• Families with a GHI between $3,001 and $7,500 receive tiered subsidies that reduce fees substantially
• Families with a GHI above $7,500 are generally not eligible for KiFAS

Beyond fee waivers, KiFAS also provides an annual bursary for learning materials, helping to reduce out-of-pocket costs for books, uniforms, and enrichment materials. Applications for KiFAS are typically submitted directly through the kindergarten, and the school's administrative team will usually guide parents through the process during enrolment.

How to Apply for Childcare Subsidies

The application process has been streamlined in recent years and is largely digital. Here is a straightforward overview of how to get started:

1. Register on the LifeSG App or Baby Bonus Portal – Most CCS applications are handled through the LifeSG app or the Baby Bonus Online portal. You will need your Singpass to log in and submit your application.
2. Enrol your child at a licensed preschool or childcare centre – Subsidies are only applicable once your child is enrolled at an ECDA-licensed centre. The centre will confirm participation in subsidy schemes during the enrolment process.
3. Submit your household income details – You will need to declare your household's monthly income, and in some cases, provide supporting documents. The system calculates your subsidy entitlement based on the latest available CPF and income data where possible.
4. Apply for AICS separately if applicable – If your child is in infant care and you meet the income criteria, submit an AICS application through LifeSG or visit an MSF Social Service Office for assistance.
5. For KiFAS, apply through your kindergarten – The school will provide application forms and guide you through the submission process, usually at the point of K1 enrolment.

Once approved, subsidies are typically applied automatically to your monthly bills. It is advisable to review your subsidy status annually or whenever there is a significant change in your household income or family circumstances.

Tips for Maximising Your Childcare Subsidies

A few practical steps can help ensure you receive the full support you are entitled to:

• Apply early — Subsidy processing can take a few weeks, so submit your application as soon as possible after confirming your child's enrolment.
• Keep income information updated — If your household income decreases, you may become eligible for a higher subsidy tier. Update your records promptly to avoid missing out.
• Check anchor operator status — Anchor operator preschools (designated by ECDA) are required to keep fees within government-mandated caps, which means subsidies go further at these centres.
• Look out for Comcare or MSF schemes — If your family faces financial hardship beyond what standard subsidies cover, social service offices can advise on additional support programmes.
• Verify SPARK certification at your chosen preschool — SPARK-certified preschools have met quality benchmarks set by ECDA, giving you confidence that you are accessing both financial support and quality education simultaneously.

Choosing the Right Preschool Alongside Your Subsidies

Understanding subsidies is only half the picture. Once you know how much support you can access, the next step is choosing a preschool that delivers genuine educational value for your child. Quality early childhood education goes far beyond childminding — it shapes cognitive development, social skills, language acquisition, and the foundations of lifelong learning. This is especially true in Singapore's multilingual context, where a strong trilingual foundation can open doors throughout a child's academic journey.

At ChildFirst, we combine financial accessibility with world-class educational innovation. Our curriculum is built around three powerful pillars: an Artificial Intelligence curriculum that introduces children to the technologies shaping tomorrow, a Human Intelligence curriculum that nurtures creativity, empathy, and social-emotional skills, and a Multiple Intelligences curriculum that celebrates every child's unique strengths and learning style.

Our trilingual approach ensures that children develop genuine proficiency across languages. Whether it is through our thoughtful approach to English language development, the richness of our Chinese pre-school programme, or the exciting way we weave coding into trilingual learning, every element of the ChildFirst experience is designed to future-proof your child in the most holistic way possible.

All ChildFirst centres are SPARK-certified and participate in government subsidy schemes, meaning eligible families can access CCS and other financial support while their children benefit from our award-winning curriculum. We have been proud recipients of the Best in Trilingualism Pre-School award since 2020 — and we believe every child deserves both great education and genuine affordability.

Making Quality Preschool Education Work for Your Family

Navigating Singapore's childcare subsidy landscape might seem complex at first, but once you understand the three key schemes — CCS, AICS, and KiFAS — and how they interact, it becomes much more manageable. Together, these subsidies reflect the government's commitment to ensuring that every child in Singapore has access to quality early childhood education, regardless of their family's financial situation.

The key is to apply early, keep your information updated, and choose a preschool that is both subsidy-eligible and genuinely committed to your child's development. With the right financial support in place and the right educational environment surrounding your child, the preschool years can be everything they are meant to be — joyful, curious, and full of growth.