Kindergarten Curriculum Framework (KCF)

With the growing demands and expectations on Singapore Preschool Education, the Ministry of Education (MOE) had recently published a refreshed Kindergarten Curriculum Framework (KCF) so as to enable the preschool industry to have a consistent desired outcome of preschool education and to manage parents’ expectations on the standards of preschool education locally.

In the framework, 6 key areas had been identified as the core competency a child should achieved at the end of Kindergarten 2:

• Aesthetics and Creative Expression
• Discovery of the World
• Language and Literacy
• Motor Skills Development
• Numeracy
• Social and Emotional Development

There are defined goals in each area of the holistic approach towards a child’s early education development. We shall highlight briefly on these areas.

1. Aesthetics and Creative Expression
Children should be able to:

• Enjoy art and music and movement activities
• Express ideas and feelings through art and music and movement
• Create art and music and movement using experimentation and imagination
• Share ideas and feelings about art and music and movement

2. Discovery of the World
Children should be able to:

• Show an interest in the world they live in
• Find out why things happen and how things work through simple investigations
• Develop a positive attitude towards the world around them

3. Language and Literacy
Children should be able to:

• Listen for information and enjoyment
• Speak to communicate with others
• Read with understanding and for enjoyment
• Use drawing, mark making, symbols and writing with invented and conventional spelling to communicate ideas and information

4. Motor Skills Development
Children should be able to:

• Participate in and enjoy a variety of physical activities
• Demonstrate control, coordination and balance in gross motor tasks
• Demonstrate control and coordination in fine motor tasks
• Develop healthy habits and safety awareness at home, in school and in public places

5. Numeracy
Children should be able to:
• Recognise and use simple relationships and patterns
• Use numbers in daily life
• Recognise and use basic shapes and simple
spatial concepts in daily life
6. Social and Emotional Development
Children should be able to:
• Develop an awareness of personal identity
• Manage their own emotions and behaviours
• Show respect for diversity
• Communicate, interact and build relationships with others
• Take responsibility for their actions

At the end of pre-school education, children should:

• Know what is right and what is wrong
• Be willing to share and take turns with others
• Be able to relate to others
• Be curious and able to explore
• Be able to listen and speak with
• understanding
• Be comfortable and happy with themselves
• Have developed physical co-ordination, healthy habits, participate in and enjoy a variety of arts experiences
• Love their families, friends, teachers and school