Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

Seven new preschools will be set up in Punggol by the end of the year, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), according to CNA.

Some parents in the estate complained that they have been unable to secure childcare places for their children, with many citing long waiting lists -- some up to more than one year -- and a lack of affordable childcare options near their homes.

An expectant mother, who was five months pregnant, was told by her neighbours to start looking for childcare vacancies nearby, CNA reported.

Additional 1,770 childcare places and 220 infant care places

The seven new preschools will provide 1,770 new childcare places and 220 infant care places, reported CNA.

ECDA said it will also work with new preschools in Punggol under the anchor operator scheme to increase operations and manpower.

Preschools under this scheme will receive government funding but will have to adhere to a fee cap.

Childcare places in Punggol have risen "significantly higher" than national increase: ECDA

ECDA told CNA that the number of childcare and infant care places in Punggol have risen higher than the overall increase nationally.

The spokesperson shared that the number of childcare places in Punggol have grown by 55 per cent from 6,400 in 2017 to 9,800 in 2021, which was higher than the 30 per cent national increase over the same period.

The number of infant care places in Punggol have also more than doubled from 410 in 2017 to 900 in 2021.

This is a higher increase than the overall 50 per cent increase in the number of infant care places nationally over the same period.

The spokesperson acknowledged, however, that the preschool situation remains "tight" in certain Punggol "subzones".

ECDA said the shortages in infant and playgroup places have been worsened by Covid-19-related developments, such as construction delays, difficulties in securing alternative care arrangements, and parents choosing to enrol their children in preschools nearer to home instead of their workplaces.

Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands seeing more demand too

The ECDA also said older estates with new Built-To-Order projects, like Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands, are also seeing more demand for infant and childcare as young families move in.

ECDA said it will develop another 500 infant and childcare places in Choa Chu Kang and another 100 infant and childcare places in Woodlands by the end of the year.

Top photo via Chan Chun Sing/FB