Welcome to UWCSEA’s Infant School. At UWCSEA, we believe that a child’s first years of school should be joyful, nurturing, and filled with wonder. Our Infant School, for children aged 4 to 7, is a vibrant, inclusive community located on both our Dover and East Campuses in Singapore. Here, every child is known, valued, and supported to thrive in a safe and stimulating environment.
The early years are a crucial stage in a child’s development, where the foundation is laid for a lifelong love of learning. At UWCSEA, learning goes far beyond the academic. Through our holistic and inquiry-based programme, children explore the world through experiences that build curiosity, creativity, and resilience. Our curriculum integrates academic learning with Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education, Service, and a wide range of engaging Activities.
Every aspect of our Infant School is designed with young learners in mind. Our structured, developmentally appropriate routines help children feel secure and confident, while fostering independence and a growth mindset. Students are encouraged to take risks in their learning, build positive relationships, and embrace challenges as opportunities.
As they begin their educational journey, our youngest learners take their first steps toward becoming compassionate, independent, and capable individuals–ready to grow not just academically, but as global citizens.
We invite you to discover how UWCSEA’s Infant School provides an exceptional start to your child’s education, in a place where learning is meaningful, joyful, and filled with purpose.
Infant School start and finish times:
Dover Campus: 8am – 2pm | East Campus: 8am – 2pm Optional after-school activities available run from 2 – 3pm
Infant School capacity (August 2026)
* Students must be born on or between 1 September and 31 August. Refer to our age-grade boundary chart for the planned year of entry for guidance, or contact Admissions.
Available places may be offered up to the start of Term 2 (January) of the school year.
A note about K2: At Dover Campus, all available places are usually filled by children who have siblings already enrolled at the College. East Campus accepts applications for K2 students.
A holistic curriculum designed for meaningful learning
At UWCSEA, our curriculum is designed to nurture each child’s growth through a balanced and holistic approach to learning. Rooted in our mission, the UWCSEA Learning Programme empowers students to develop the understandings, knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to thrive in school and in life.
Our Learning Programme is comprised of five equally important elements: Academics, Activities, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education (PSE), and Service. Each plays a vital role in supporting students to become self-directed, socially aware, and mission-ready individuals.
We offer a challenging and age-appropriate written curriculum that is organised into six broad domains aligned with academic disciplines. Learning is carefully structured to meet students where they are and to build on their existing experiences, regardless of when they join the College and their prior learning.
In the Early Years programme, our curriculum is interdisciplinary and play-based. A dramatic play scenario—such as running a pretend restaurant—might involve role-play (drama), writing menus (literacy), calculating bills (maths), and demonstrating hospitality (personal and social education). Through rich experiences like this, learning is integrated, joyful and deeply meaningful.
Our curriculum is more than a pathway through academic subjects, it is a framework for building character, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Sciences and Technology
Arts and Design
UWCSEA Curriculum Domains
Humanities Mathematics
Languages Wellbeing
Academics in the Infant School
Our Infant School curriculum offers a rich and engaging academic experience for children aged 4 to 7, supporting them to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
Our concept-based, inquiry-driven curriculum is carefully structured to be developmentally appropriate and meaningful for young learners. Through interdisciplinary and play-based learning, students are encouraged to explore, question, and make connections across different subject areas.
While learning in the Infant School is intentional and connects to our College curriculum, teachers adjust their plans on a regular basis to ensure students’ current understanding, interests and ongoing learning needs inform their next steps of learning.
Children engage in a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes:
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Humanities
• Art and Drama
• Music
• Physical Education (PE)
• Languages other than English / English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Each classroom is supported by a team that includes a classroom teacher and a teaching assistant. Specialist teachers deliver Music, PE, and Languages, while our Curriculum Coaches work closely with staff to support inquiry, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy.
Literacy
Our balanced literacy programme focuses on speaking, listening, reading, writing and word study. Literacy is integrated throughout the day in both structured and playbased activities. Children are supported to grow as confident communicators and critical thinkers, developing the skills to express themselves effectively.
Mathematics
Mathematical understanding is built through practical, hands-on experiences. From playing with manipulatives to using cooking activities for measurement, children move from concrete experiences to symbolic thinking. Students explore patterns, number sense, and problem-solving in ways that feel relevant and enjoyable.
Languages
All students have four lessons a week in a Language other than English, choosing from Chinese and Spanish (beginning in Grade 1) on Dover Campus and Chinese, Spanish or French on East Campus. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is provided as needed, and Home Language classes are available after school, subject to demand. EAL learners are integrated into classroom activities and supported to develop literacy and communication skills in English. As children progress from Infant School to Junior School (G2G5) the foreign language programme offers more choices and you can find out more in the Languages Brochure linked below.
Science and Humanities
Through inquiry-based units, students develop an understanding of concepts in science and humanities. They conduct investigations, collect data, use graphs, and engage in hands-on learning to build research and thinking skills.
Physical Education
Delivered by specialist teachers, PE lessons twice a week focus on movement, coordination, and swimming. Students engage in games, athletics, gymnastics and adventure challenges in dedicated facilities designed for younger learners.
Technology
Overall, digital technologies are used minimally in Infant School and the majority of learning involves hands-on, analogue learning experiences. Students use age-appropriate digital tools, such as tablets, to support creativity and inquiry. Digital Literacy Coaches work alongside teachers to integrate technology meaningfully and safely into classroom experiences.
Art and Music
Art and Music are central to cognitive, emotional, and motor development. Students express themselves creatively through painting, sculpture, clay work, and musical exploration. Our music programme includes singing, rhythm, pitch and performance, with lessons tailored to developmental stages. Children can also take part in music lessons through the Instrument Teaching Programme (ITP) after school as part of our Activities offering. These lessons are at an additional fee and you can find out more by visiting the ITP websites below.
Community Time (K1–K2)
Our youngest learners benefit from bi-weekly ‘community time’ – large-scale collaborative projects across classrooms that foster independence, curiosity and social growth. Students explore learning centres and connect with peers in a shared, open learning environment.
Every aspect of academic learning in the Infant School is intentionally designed to be joyful, purposeful and aligned with children’s real-world experiences. Through a balance of structure and exploration, our students develop not only knowledge, but the skills and attitudes they need to thrive as learners for life.
Languages Brochure
EAL
Activities in the Infant School
At UWCSEA, we believe learning continues well beyond the classroom. Our Infant School activities programme is designed to help children explore new interests, develop confidence, and enjoy meaningful experiences that build social skills, perseverance, and resilience.
When the school day ends at 2pm, an enriching selection of after-school activities is available. These are led by our teachers or experienced external partners, and offer opportunities for creative, physical, and social development in a safe and familiar environment.
Previous activities have included:
• Art and music
• Chess
• Coding
• Dance
• Gymnastic and parkour
• Lego technics
• Service-based projects
• Synchronised swimming
• Yoga and mindfulness
A large range of sports activities such as gymnastics, tennis, swimming , and football are also offered. These sessions are run by qualified coaches and provide an age-appropriate introduction to structured physical activity. Some activities are available at no additional cost whilst others are on a fee-paying basis.
The Home and Community Languages Programme offers small-group lessons in a child’s home or heritage language, with a focus on age-appropriate literacy development. These are also offered at an additional cost.
Weekend and school holiday activities further enrich the experience. Past offerings have included karate, Chinese music and dance, and more–giving students a chance to try something new in a relaxed, exploratory setting.
While the full after-school activities programme begins in Grade 2 (Junior School), our Infant School offerings are a gentle and inspiring introduction to co-curricular life at UWCSEA, helping young children to discover new passions and connect with peers who share their interests.
Outdoor Education in the Infant School
At UWCSEA, we believe that some of the most powerful learning happens beyond the classroom walls. Our Outdoor Education programme is carefully designed to take students into the unfamiliar, introduce age-appropriate challenges, and deepen their connection with the natural world.
From their earliest years, Infant School students engage in regular outdoor learning experiences in our rich campus environments. Through explorations in our green spaces, students develop curiosity, confidence, and a growing appreciation for nature. Activities may involve observing wildlife in the gardens, working in sustainability-focused learning zones, or using natural materials creatively in childled play.
Local field trips extend these experiences, providing realworld opportunities to explore and apply their learning. Students have visited places such as:
• Chinatown
• Forest Adventure and Forest School
• Tampines Eco Green (East)
• Wildlings Forest School (Dover)
• Singapore Zoo
• Local theatre productions
Parents are invited to assist on many of these outings, making it a shared learning experience for families.
These early adventures pave the way for more independent experiences in later years. In Grade 1, students take part in their first overnight experience, a classroom sleepover on campus. In Grade 2, they participate in a specially designed full-day outdoor programme followed by an overnight camping experience at the Singapore Zoo.
These experiences help students:
• Embrace challenge and unfamiliar settings
• Build positive relationships with peers and adults
• Connect deeply with the natural world
• Develop early expedition and risk-taking skills
• Grow confidence and a sense of independence
Through Outdoor Education, our youngest learners begin to understand their role as stewards of the planet, while gaining the personal and interpersonal skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Personal and Social Education in the Infant School
At UWCSEA, we believe that a strong sense of wellbeing is essential for learning. In the Infant School, Personal and Social Education (PSE) is at the heart of everything we do. We support our students to develop self-awareness, build positive relationships, and gain the social-emotional skills they need to thrive both in school and in life.
The PSE programme is not taught in isolation. Instead, it is woven throughout the school day, embedded in classroom routines, social interactions and learning experiences. Whether through morning meetings, circle time, collaborative play or problem-solving during conflict, students are consistently encouraged to explore how they feel, communicate their needs, and care for others.
Our focus includes:
• Awareness of others and the world around them
• Conflict resolution and negotiation
• Friendship and teamwork
• Lessons connected to child safeguarding
• Resilience and self-worth
• Social emotional learning and mindfulness
Each child’s wellbeing is carefully nurtured by their classroom teacher, supported by a teaching assistant. This team works closely with parents to monitor and support each student’s personal and social development. They are guided by the Head of Grade and supported by the Vice Principal and Principal, who share overall responsibility for the care of our youngest learners.
Outside the classroom, children build relationships with a wider circle of caring adults—specialist teachers, learning support staff, and the Primary School Wellness Centre counsellors. This network of trusted adults ensures that every child feels known, valued, and supported.
Strong partnerships with parents are a cornerstone of our approach. We welcome regular face-to-face communication and encourage families to be actively involved in the school experience. Our counsellors also provide professional guidance and workshops for parents to support wellbeing at home.
This collaborative, wraparound approach to PSE is key to helping our students develop the confidence, empathy and interpersonal skills that will stay with them far beyond their early school years.
Service in the Infant School
At UWCSEA, Service is a core pillar of our mission and a fundamental part of what it means to be part of our school community. Even in the earliest years, we encourage students to understand the value of caring for others, acting with empathy, and seeing themselves as agents of change.
In the Infant School, service is integrated through our Service, Sustainability and Peace (SSP) curriculum and the Units of Study. It is taught in age-appropriate and meaningful ways, encouraging our students to reflect on the world around them and take action, however small.
From Kindergarten, students are introduced to the idea of helping within their immediate environment. They take part in classroom and community-based service projects such as:
• Caring for shared spaces and classroom materials
• Watering plants and gardening
• Collecting litter and recycling
• Worm composting and environmental stewardship
As they grow, so does their understanding of what service can mean. In Grade 1, students engage in projects that connect them with the wider community. Both campuses support local elderly care homes, such as Happy Lodge in Tampines (East) and Lion Befrienders (Dover), by writing cards, singing songs or preparing small gifts–creating real connections and fostering compassion. Infant School students also participate in global service learning. At Dover, students support Mumbai Mobile Creches, which provides childcare and education for children of construction workers in India. At East, students learn about and support Kuma Cambodia, a community-based school in Takhmau province. These initiatives encourage our students to understand the lives of children in different parts of the world and consider how they can contribute meaningfully, even from a young age.
These experiences help students:
• Build empathy and compassion
• Take initiative in caring for others and the planet
• Connect their classroom learning with real-world action
• Begin to see themselves as capable of making a difference
Service learning is embedded across the Infant School curriculum and is one of the many ways our students learn to live out the UWC values in everyday life.
