A “park within a park” learning experience awaits the children
The ground was broken on 18 January 2017, Wednesday, on site at Sengkang Riverside Park for Singapore’s first large child care centre in a public park – the Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park. When completed in the first quarter of 2018, Skool4Kidz’ second large facility and 14th centre since its inception in 2014 will have the capacity for 360 child care and 40 infant care places.
After officiating the ground-breaking ceremony, Minister Tan Chuan-Jin announced that four additional large centres will be built in estates with young families to help meet child care demand, especially for younger children.
The ceremony was witnessed by representatives from stakeholders, including Mr. Eugene Leong, CEO of the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Dr. Lam Pin Min, Adviser to Sengkang West, Mr. Kong Yit San, Assistant CEO of NParks, Mr. Robert Leong, Executive Director of Skool4Kidz, and Dr. Jane Ching-Kwan, Director and Curriculum Founder of Skool4Kidz.
With a built-up area of 3,600 sqm, the two-storey Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park will have a capacity 4 times that of an average child care centre. It is intelligently designed to connect children to the abundance of nature, encouraging them to explore, respect and learn in a safe and conducive environment that enhances child development. Skool4Kidz will also leverage on technology in its curriculum to add to the rich learning experience. Children can look forward to innovative pedagogies such as venturing outdoors and learning through tablets filled with interactive educational content.
The unique architectural concept of the campus has deep symbolic significance on how nature and education come together to benefit our children and community. From afar, the building emerges as a “rolling-hill” in a park that seamlessly blends into the environment. At the same time, the artistic building also symbolizes a cocoon-like space that provides a truly nurturing environment, where children can develop their own uniqueness and strengths, and prepare for primary school.
Appointed as an Anchor Operator by ECDA in 2012, Skool4Kidz is a Member of Kinderland Educare Services. Since then, it has collaborated closely with ECDA to set up 13 childcare centres in the heartlands of Marsiling, Woodlands, Yishun, Senja, Tampines, Punggol, Sengkang and Chai Chee.
The new Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park will be Singapore’s first large child care centre in a public park. It was conceptualized to seamlessly blend into the surrounding, giving a facade of a rolling-hill, as if the campus is rising from the park grounds.
Opening address by Dr Jane Ching-Kwan, Director and Curriculum Founder of Skool4Kidz.
From left to right, Mr. Robert Leong (Executive Director of Skool4Kidz), Mr. Eugene Leong (CEO of the ECDA), Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin (Minister for Social and Family Development), Dr. Lam Pin Min (Adviser to Sengkang West), Mr. Kong Yit San (Assistant CEO of NParks), Dr. Jane Ching-Kwan (Director and Curriculum Founder of Skool4Kidz)
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin viewing the gallery of Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park.
Leveraging on technology, Minister Tan watches as the new Skool4Kidz campus comes to life through the use of Augmented Reality technology.
The NParks “Community in Bloom” volunteers who will be partnering with Skool4Kidz in caring for the community gardening plot within the campus.
The new campus is designed to provide children with a “park within a park” learning experience, where the natural environment is used as part of their educational and developmental journey.