Abecedarian Approach (AA) is an evidence-based approach that emphasises language development and high quality adult-child interactions to stimulate child development and growth. Research has shown that such interactions enable children from lower-income backgrounds to improve their cognitive and socio-emotional development, and catch up with their peers.

This pilot programme trains teachers to apply teaching and learning strategies under the AA in selected pre-schools, to support the early development of infants and toddlers from low-income families. There will also be mentors to guide teachers and model the delivery of AA strategies. Parents will also be taught strategies that they can apply at home to reinforce their children’s learning.

16 pre-schools under NTUC My First Skool, PCF Sparkletots, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS), and Presbyterian Community Services were selected for the programme. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will work with the pre-school operators to train 60 teachers and identify about 100 children across the pre-schools.