Our History

In the 1960s, one of the biggest concerns of the People’s Action Party (PAP) was the social and educational development of Singaporeans and their children. The setting up of low-cost kindergartens became its planned effort to help children prepare for entry into primary schools.
Preschool classes were conducted in any available space ranging from ‘wayang’ stages to shop houses.

On 17 May 1986, the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) was established as the charitable arm of the PAP. All PAP Kindergartens were then renamed PCF Kindergartens. To meet the needs of the community as well as to improve the standard of kindergarten education, PCF launched Project Kindergarten (1987 – 1989). Physical facilities of PCF Kindergartens were improved, the curriculum was revised and the teaching approaches advocated were aligned with the principles of early childhood education.

From 1991 to 1994, PCF Kindergartens underwent another major revamp through Project Pre-School (PPS). There was further upgrading of physical facilities and the curriculum was reviewed and improved. With Project Pre-School, more new PCF Kindergartens were built in new estates while existing ones were upgraded. In April 1991, PCF launched its first childcare centre, Sparkletots at Telok Blangah. It was a significant step forward in meeting the needs of the community.

In 2006, PCF celebrated its 20th Anniversary. It was an appropriate time for PCF to look back at what it had done and to look forward to its continued quality service to the community. The PCF Excellence Award and PCF Achievement Award were also introduced to motivate and recognise the contributions of PCF teaching staff.

Since the start of 2010, PCF has worked with MCYS to support the government’s plan to have 200 new childcare centres by 2013. PCF had to raise some 60 centres as its share. A rapid expansion plan was crafted and the New Generation Childcare Centres evolved.

In 2011, PCF celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The celebration theme – “Inspiring A Million Learners, Caring for The Community” aptly speaks of our unwavering commitment to serve the community. The celebration included island-wide PCF 25th Anniversary Carnivals, the publication of a commemorative magazine, “The PCF Story – Celebrating 25 years of growth”, a PCF Teachers’ Convention and an Anniversary Dinner.

PCF rebrands with a new corporate logo and uniform for its preschool services on 15 November 2014 at PCF Sparkletots @ Bishan North Blk 257. All PCF kindergarten and child care centres were rebranded as PCF Sparkletots Preschool.

The rebranding marks the completion of a restructuring initiative that began in 2012 to bring all 360 PCF Sparkletots kindergartens and childcare centres under a centralised operation and management system.

PCF opens its first Senior Care Centre – PCF Sparkle Care @ Changi Simei on Saturday, 2 April 2016. PCF Sparkle Care is an integrated eldercare facility that provides centre-based community care services for seniors who are physically frail and in need of supervision during the day while their loved ones are at work.

PCF officially opens its first large childcare centre at Marsiling on Saturday, 20 May 2017. Spread over 2,500 square metres, PCF Sparkletots @ Marsiling is located at Woodlands St 12. Coupled with an extension bay at Block 101 with a floor area of 455 square metres, this large childcare centre provides full day infant and child care services for up to 370 children.

PCF Sparkletots @ Cashew is PCF’s first childcare centre located within Hillion Mall – an integrated development that combines residential living with retail mall. Spread over 2,000 sqm, this centre offers full day childcare and infant care services for up to 287 children and was officially opened on 12 August 2017.