School-based or private student care: how they differ
School-based student care runs inside your child's primary school and takes only that school's pupils. Private student care, like Little Earth's, runs in its own centre, takes children from many schools, and sets its own hours, programme and fees.
Facts about school-based centres and subsidies are from MOE and MSF, checked 16 October 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
What is the difference, side by side?
The biggest differences are who can join, where the centre is, and whether you can use the government's Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA). Little Earth is one private provider; other private centres differ.
| Topic | School-based student care centre | Little Earth (private) |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Inside the primary school. Children go from their classroom to the centre without leaving school (MOE). | Our own centres in Tampines, Kovan, Marine Parade, Bukit Timah and Bishan. Optional bus pick-up from school at 1:30pm. |
| Who can join | Only pupils of the school it is in (MOE). | Children from any school, K2 to Primary 6. |
| K2 children | Not a pupil of the school yet, so not eligible. | Yes, from K2. |
| Subsidy | Eligible families can get up to 98% of fees covered through SCFA (MOE). | SCFA is not available. Our centres are private. |
| Fees | Vary from centre to centre. Ask the school or the centre (MOE). | Not published online. Depend on the package and extras. Ask on WhatsApp. |
| How to apply | Through the school, after your child has been admitted. Schools also explain it at orientation (MOE). | WhatsApp the centre at any time of year. |
| Weekday hours | Set by each centre. Ask the school. | Until 7pm, or 7:30pm at Tampines. |
| School holidays | Ask the school's centre what it runs. | Full days at a top-up, with breakfast, lunch and tea, plus holiday programmes with outings. |
| Tuition | Ask the school's centre. | MOE-registered tuition in the same afternoon, at extra charge. |
When is school-based student care the better choice?
When your family qualifies for SCFA, or when you want your child to stay inside school with no travel at all. Every primary school has a school-based centre (MOE), so if it has a place for your child it is the simplest option, and SCFA can cover up to 98% of its fees for eligible families.
If the school's centre has no vacancies, MOE points parents to community-based student care centres near home or near the school (MOE).
What does private student care at Little Earth offer?
Things a school-based centre may not: a place from K2, a bus between school, centre and home, tuition in the same afternoon, and full days in the school holidays.
- K2 intake. A child can join in K2 and stay at the same centre through Primary 6.
- Bus pick-up and drop-off. Optional: pick-up from school at 1:30pm, and home at 5:30pm.
- Tuition in the same afternoon. Chinese, English, Math, Math Olympiad or Science, at extra charge, and fine art at Tampines.
- Holiday full days. Student care children can stay the whole day in the school holidays and on school off days, at a top-up.
- A centre outside school. Choose the centre near home or work rather than the school. Brothers and sisters at different schools can come to one place.
- Two languages every day. Spelling (听写) practice, Chinese and English enrichment, and teachers who speak both.
Can I use SCFA at Little Earth?
No. Little Earth's centres are private and do not take SCFA.
SCFA is run by MSF. It helps children aged 7 to 14 (Primary 1 to Secondary 2) from working families whose household income is under a set limit, and it is paid through student care centres that administer it for MSF; from January 2027 MSF states this as a condition (MSF). MSF also raises the income limit from January 2027; see the MSF page for the current figures.
How do I choose?
Start with three questions: does your family qualify for SCFA, does your child's school centre have a place, and what do you need beyond term-time afternoons?
- If you qualify for SCFA and the school centre has a place, try the school centre first.
- If your child is in K2, needs a bus home, needs tuition, or you need full days in the holidays, compare the private centres near you, Little Earth included.
- Visit before you decide, and ask each centre about its hours, meals and fees.
Little Earth centres with student care
-
Tampines
300 Tampines Avenue 5, #05-06, Income@Tampines Junction, Singapore 529653
-
Kovan
203 Hougang Street 21, #01-79, Singapore 530203
-
Marine Parade
1 Marine Parade Central, #03-01, Parkway Centre, Singapore 449408
-
Bukit Timah
1 Jalan Anak Bukit, #02-29, Bukit Timah Plaza, Singapore 588996
-
Bishan
1 Pemimpin Drive, #03-02, One Pemimpin, Singapore 576151
Ask about student care
- Pick the centre and what you need.
- Press Continue in WhatsApp. Your message opens, ready to send.
- Send it. The centre replies in the same chat.
Nothing is sent until you press send in WhatsApp. This form does not store or send what you type anywhere else.