International Preschool in Singapore

A play and inquiry-based preschool following the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, for students aged 18 months to 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 and expertly supported through a student-centered curriculum that is hands-on, fun, and engaging.

Daily differentiated Mandarin

Starting at 18 months, our daily differentiated Mandarin programme at GESS provides level-appropriate exposure tailored tailored to each child’s prior exposure, ensuring that every student builds a confident and natural foundation in the language regardless of their starting point.

Dual Language Steam

Starting at 18 months, children are naturally immersed in their chosen school language, either English or German, ensuring they develop authentic fluency and confidence through daily, age-appropriate exposure.

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 or German

Curriculum Information

Languages

Co-curricular after-school programmes

Entry requirements

Curriculum Information

GESS Preschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and guided by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our curriculum is intentionally designed to balance inquiry, play, and structured learning experiences, ensuring children develop strong foundations for future academic success.

Through hands-on and experiential learning, children explore meaningful concepts and make real-world connections. Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on developing essential skills such as literacy, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills, supporting
both academic and social development.

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 inquiry
Forest School/ Outdoor learning

Grade placement
Due to rapid development in the preschool years, grade placements ensure
children are grouped with peers at a similar stage of social development.

Pre-Kindergarten: year-round enrolment from 18 months old

Kindergarten 1: 3 years old by 31 August

Kindergarten 2: 4 years old by 31 August

Pre-Primary: 5 years old by 31 August

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

We offer two language streams:

English - In the English stream, the teacher and assistant teacher teach in English. Language support is available for students that need help with developing their English proficiency. Parents can choose between 30 min daily Mandarin or 30 min daily German.
German - The German stream is staffed by a German-speaking teacher and teacher assistant. The second language is English and it is taught daily through various specialist classes (Forest School, Sport, Swimming, Art, and Music).

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 stream 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 and guided by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our curriculum is intentionally designed to balance inquiry, play, and structured learning experiences, ensuring children develop strong foundations for future academic success.

Through hands-on and experiential learning, children explore meaningful concepts and make real-world connections. Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on developing essential skills such as literacy, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills, supporting
both academic and social development.

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 inquiry
Forest School/ Outdoor learning

Grade placement
Due to rapid development in the preschool years, grade placements ensure
children are grouped with peers at a similar stage of social development.

Pre-Kindergarten: year-round enrolment from 18 months old

Kindergarten 1: 3 years old by 31 August

Kindergarten 2: 4 years old by 31 August

Pre-Primary: 5 years old by 31 August

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

We offer two language streams:

English - In the English stream, the teacher and assistant teacher teach in English. Language support is available for students that need help with developing their English proficiency. Parents can choose between 30 min daily Mandarin or 30 min daily German.
German - The German stream is staffed by a German-speaking teacher and teacher assistant. The second language is English and it is taught daily through various specialist classes (Forest School, Sport, Swimming, Art, and Music).

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 stream is subject to minimum German proficiency levels.

Brochures

School brochure

Preschool brochure

IB Primary brochure

IB Secondary brochure