The Schoolhouse West Coast is a preschool on West Coast Road in Clementi, close to West Coast Park. Its big draw is the outdoor space, which the website describes as large and full of greenery for physical play, imaginative play and nature walks. Parents mention the outdoor playground, weekly mud kitchen and water play, and the teachers' warmth.
The school follows an inquiry-based, play-led approach, which the website describes as a multiple literacies curriculum. The aim is to build collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and empathy. The school also has an early childcare programme, and it holds a graduation ceremony for children leaving for primary school. Parents describe the teachers as patient and caring, and say settling in was easy. One family with two children, now both at the school, says they came because of the outdoor space.
The Schoolhouse is part of the Busy Bees group, and the website says the group runs 14 preschools and two infant care centres in Singapore. Within a kilometre there are four other childcare centres. MapleBear Jubilee is 0.4 km away. Our pick in Clementi for a preschooler who learns best through outdoor play.