Balestier preschool shuts down, citing 'significant increase' in rent & working pattern shifts, parents seek alternatives

Little Footprints Preschool @ Balestier 2, operated by Babilou Family Singapore, announced its closure on Jan. 30, 2026, leaving many parents affected.

A 30-year-old father who had enrolled his son at the preschool told Mothership that some families had supposedly "enrolled their children in January 2026, shortly before the closure notice was issued".

He said they were surprised by the timing, given the "sensitivity" of childcare arrangements.

In a closure notice seen by Mothership, parents were formally notified on Jan. 30, 2026, that the centre will cease operations on Jul. 31, 2026, in line with ECDA’s six-month notice requirement.

A spokesperson from Babilou Family Singapore said that it was an operational matter and would not be sharing further details at this time.

"We are currently managing matters relating to Little Footprints Preschool @ Balestier 2 with a focus on supporting families and our teams, and ensuring that transitions are handled thoughtfully and responsibly."

No "warning signs"

The father, who is a foreigner, stated that he will have to find another centre under Babilou instead of finding a different brand of preschool, as he would have to redo all the administrative tasks for his son's student pass otherwise. 

This includes his vaccination registration and student pass, which would not be worth the hassle for the last six months of his child's preschool schooling.

Due to this lengthy process, the father enrolled his child much earlier, back in 2025. The letter of his son's confirmed enrolment was dated Aug. 13, 2025.

He claimed that at the time of enrolment, there was no "indication or disclosure" that the centre was facing "sustainability concerns."

The father placed a deposit and registration fee, but as his child would be considered a transfer student within the Babilou Family Singapore system, his deposit would be transferred, and a top-up may be required.

Centre closing due to "significant increase" in rental costs and shifts in working patterns

Little Footprints Preschool @ Balestier 2 served families for five years.

In the closure notice, Babilou Family provided context to the situation, stating that "the significant increase in private property rental costs has impacted the centre's long-term sustainability".

It also cited shifts in working patterns and demographics in the area, with more organisations adopting flexible and hybrid work arrangements.

"These changes have influenced how families utilise early childhood services in the vicinity," it said.

The company said the decision came after extensive review, and it was not taken lightly.

"By consolidating our resources, we will be better positioned to continue delivering high-quality early childhood education and care through our other centres."

To ensure continuity in its students' preschool journey, the Babilou Family group, which operates over 50 preschool centres in Singapore, offered families a transfer.

Alternative at Potong Pasir offered

They redirected families to their nearest centre at Potong Pasir, deploying teachers from the Balestier outlet.

According to the closure notice, the company offered a full waiver of registration fees for all internal transfers.

For families transferring to KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse, enrolment transition support and a complimentary set of school uniform and physical education attire were provided.

However, enrolling his son at Potong Pasir would not work for his schedule.

He said that while it is valid for Babilou to consider the business perspective of the centre, they should have "negotiated or accepted a temporary hike in rent" to close at the end of the year.

Also, he felt that the Balestier centre should have stopped accepting new registrations, in the interests of transparency, although there was no clear indication on when the decision to shutter the Balestier branch was taken.

Top photo from Google Maps