NTUC First Campus rolls out relationship-based curriculum for toddlers

SINGAPORE — A new relationship-based curriculum for toddlers up to three years old, which focuses on building attachment with educators, has been rolled out across more than 130 NTUC First Campus childcare centres.

The curriculum was implemented following research conducted by NTUC’s Seed Institute from July 2013 to December last year on 130 children. A team of early childhood researchers, led by Professor Marjory Ebbeck, Emeritus Professor and Director of the Centre for Research and Best Practices at NTUC’s Seed Institute, found significant improvements in the well-being of children in the experimental groups under the new curriculum compared to those in the control group.

For instance, these children were happier, settled into childcare more quickly and were involved for longer periods in activities. A primary caregiving approach for infants between two and 18 months was also trialled and it was shown to be effective in developing close bonds with educators.

Speaking to reporters at a press briefing today (July 22), Prof Ebbeck stressed that the early years are critical to a child’s development, where developing a sense of security, trust and self-confidence through bonds with educators helps children learn better. “Early experience do matter and the relationships that we experience as children can have life-long lasting effects on health, social-emotional and cognitive development... By introducing this new relationships-based approach here in NTUC First Campus preschools, we are raising local early childhood development standards to be in line with best practices globally,” she added.

The curriculum, which has been implemented since January, will benefit more than 6,000 infants and young children aged two months to three years after full implementation in two years.

NTUC First Campus CEO Mr Chan Tee Seng said: “We hope that this curriculum can benefit young children beyond our network, and we will work with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to find the appropriate platform and format ... to eventually make available our learnings and practices with others in the sector.”