International Preschool in Singapore

A play and inquiry-based preschool following the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, for students aged 2-5 years old.

Our Preschool Team partners with your family as you take your child's first steps on their school journey. Through planned play and inquiry, your child will develop important concepts and skills, including how to communicate, share, and collaborate. Our professional educators will guide, nurture, and develop your child into a confident, lifelong learner, ensuring they are prepared for successful and confident learning in primary school and beyond.

Meaningful, play-based and holistic learning approach

Learning is intentionally planned for with an expertly planned, student-centred curriculum that is hands-on, fun and engaging.

An inspirational and purpose-built campus

Our purpose-built and specially designed preschool campus is surrounded by nature and has an award-winning playground. It offers our youngest community members over 50 dedicated learning spaces to inspire curiosity.

Certified Forest School Programme with award-winning playground

Our Forest School Programme for Preschool learners has been introduced to give our youngest students enhanced opportunities to explore, inquire, and learn in nature.

A caring community with Low student-to-teacher ratios

At the heart of our school is our community. We greatly value developing partnerships and supporting our preschool families and students. With a low student-to-teacher ratio, we ensure that we understand the specific needs of your child, developing their skills in an age-appropriate way and making them part of the community

Weekly swim lessons in our heated, indoor pool

Our Preschool Swim program is led by professional coaches dedicated to teaching little ones this essential life skill. During these crucial developmental years, we provide a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive in the water.

Certified Forest School Programme Featured on Sassy Mama

At the GESS Preschool, we believe nature is the ultimate teacher. Our Certified Forest School Programme takes learning into the lush greenery of the nearby Dairy Farm Nature Park, offering a "classroom without walls" where curiosity knows no bounds.

Featured on Sassy Mama 2026

WHAT OUR PARENTS AND STUDENTS SAY ABOUT US

"GESS is a school where children are encouraged to take risks"

Family Martins

"The school provides a variety of activities like cooking, art, sports and music"

Family Kramer and Matsuda

See more testimonials

A CAMPUS IMAGINED BY OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Join us on a guided virtual tour of our international school preschool campus and discover how our world-class learning facilities help our students grow.

Instantly book a school tour or online meeting today!

Maximum class size

Pre-Kindergarten 15 students and 3 educators

Kindergarten 18 students and 2 educators

Pre-Primary 20 students and 2 educators

School day

5 full-day programme
8.00 - 14:50

3 half-days and 2 full-day programme
8.00 - 12.30 / 14:50

Lunch

Freshly cooked meal provided

School bus service

Supervised door-to-door bus service and shuttle bus available

After school activities

After school programmes available for Preschool students

Language of instruction

English, German or Bilingual

Curriculum Information

Languages

Co-curricular after-school programmes

Entry requirements

Curriculum Information

GESS Preschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education and built on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our curriculum is inquiry and play-based with plenty of hands-on, experiential learning helping your child to make real-world connections to the topics being taught. In playful ways, your child will learn important concepts (e.g. about relationships or expression) and skills (e.g. to communicate, collaborate and social skills).

Your child will enjoy and benefit from a range of specialist lessons and activities including:

Music
Art
Sports
Swimming (Kindergarten 2 and Pre-Primary)
Library lessons
Outdoor learning

Grade placement
Children are developing rapidly during preschool ages, and therefore, grade placements are followed to ensure your child is with other children of the same social development level.

Pre-Kindergarten: 2 years old by 31 July or 2 years old by 31 January for semester 2 entry

Kindergarten 1: 3 years old by 31 July

Kindergarten 2: 4 years old by 31 July

Pre-Primary: 5 years old by 31 July

Study Options
Our preschool programmes are designed for a full-day schedule (08:00-14:50), however, in Pre-Kindergarten, families may choose to follow a shorter programme of 3 half-days (08:00-12:30) and 2 full-days (08:00-14:45).

Languages

Pre-Kindergarten Programme
In the classroom, children are naturally exposed to and immersed in both English and German. English is the language of instruction and there are daily German activities with the German Language Team.

Kindergarten and Pre-Primary Language Options
We offer three language streams in kindergarten and pre-primary grades:

Bilingual - Students are immersed in both languages in the classroom. This is the perfect option for multilingual families who would like their child to learn both in English and German.
English - In the English immersion stream, the teacher and assistant teacher teach in English. Language support is available for students that need help with developing their English proficiency. Students are exposed to and study German as the second language.
German - The German immersion stream is taught in German only with a German-speaking teacher and assistant. Some specialist lessons are taught in English and students learn English as the second language.

Language Support
There are language support sessions available for children in the German or English streams who need to further develop their German or English skills. Children may be supported within the classroom, or out of the classroom with a small group of peers to engage in additional activities to build their language proficiency skills.

Co-curricular after-school programmes

Our Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students enjoy a full range of after-school activities (CCA), expertly designed to develop children's interests. Your child can choose from many activities including:

Mandarin
Art
Cooking
Multi-sports
Music
Ballet
Gymnastics
Sports

Entry requirements

GESS is a non-selective international school, and we welcome students with diverse talents and abilities.

Year-round enrolment (students can start on any Friday)
Students of all English levels are welcome
Entry into German and Bilingual streams is subject to minimum German proficiency levels.

Curriculum Information

Languages

Co-curricular after-school programmes

Entry requirements

Curriculum Information

GESS Preschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education and built on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our curriculum is inquiry and play-based with plenty of hands-on, experiential learning helping your child to make real-world connections to the topics being taught. In playful ways, your child will learn important concepts (e.g. about relationships or expression) and skills (e.g. to communicate, collaborate and social skills).

Your child will enjoy and benefit from a range of specialist lessons and activities including:

Music
Art
Sports
Swimming (Kindergarten 2 and Pre-Primary)
Library lessons
Outdoor learning

Grade placement
Children are developing rapidly during preschool ages, and therefore, grade placements are followed to ensure your child is with other children of the same social development level.

Pre-Kindergarten: 2 years old by 31 July or 2 years old by 31 January for semester 2 entry

Kindergarten 1: 3 years old by 31 July

Kindergarten 2: 4 years old by 31 July

Pre-Primary: 5 years old by 31 July

Study Options
Our preschool programmes are designed for a full-day schedule (08:00-14:50), however, in Pre-Kindergarten, families may choose to follow a shorter programme of 3 half-days (08:00-12:30) and 2 full-days (08:00-14:45).

Languages

Pre-Kindergarten Programme
In the classroom, children are naturally exposed to and immersed in both English and German. English is the language of instruction and there are daily German activities with the German Language Team.

Kindergarten and Pre-Primary Language Options
We offer three language streams in kindergarten and pre-primary grades:

Bilingual - Students are immersed in both languages in the classroom. This is the perfect option for multilingual families who would like their child to learn both in English and German.
English - In the English immersion stream, the teacher and assistant teacher teach in English. Language support is available for students that need help with developing their English proficiency. Students are exposed to and study German as the second language.
German - The German immersion stream is taught in German only with a German-speaking teacher and assistant. Some specialist lessons are taught in English and students learn English as the second language.

Language Support
There are language support sessions available for children in the German or English streams who need to further develop their German or English skills. Children may be supported within the classroom, or out of the classroom with a small group of peers to engage in additional activities to build their language proficiency skills.

Co-curricular after-school programmes

Our Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students enjoy a full range of after-school activities (CCA), expertly designed to develop children's interests. Your child can choose from many activities including:

Mandarin
Art
Cooking
Multi-sports
Music
Ballet
Gymnastics
Sports

Entry requirements

GESS is a non-selective international school, and we welcome students with diverse talents and abilities.

Year-round enrolment (students can start on any Friday)
Students of all English levels are welcome
Entry into German and Bilingual streams is subject to minimum German proficiency levels.

Brochures

School brochure

Preschool brochure

IB Primary brochure

IB Secondary brochure