Understanding ECDA Childminding Pilot Program

EduNanny® Parent Guide · Singapore

Updated 2 October 2026 · Programme facts checked against ECDA’s published guidance.

Choosing infant care means finding someone you can trust with the small details of your baby’s day: the feed that takes a little longer, the familiar song that settles them, and the moment they reach for something new.

The ECDA Childminding Pilot Programme gives families in Singapore another way to arrange that care. It offers subsidised infant childminding in small groups, at childminders’ homes or community spaces. EduNanny® by BUTLER is one of the three operators appointed by ECDA.

This guide explains who can join, what care costs, how the hours work, and how to choose between a regular subscription and an occasional booking with EduNanny.

What is the ECDA Childminding Pilot Programme?

The pilot expands the infant care choices available to families. Instead of attending an infant care centre, participating infants receive care in a childminder’s home or a community setting through an appointed operator.

For a parent preparing to return to work, this can mean exploring a small-group arrangement close to home. For a family that shares caregiving with grandparents, it can mean arranging support for agreed days of the week. The right arrangement depends on your baby’s needs, your daily travel, and the places available near you.

Small-group care also gives families a useful starting point for a conversation about attention. Ask how the childminder handles different feeding and sleeping routines, how they respond when more than one infant needs comfort, and how information is shared at the end of the day.

Who is eligible?

ECDA’s published criteria require the infant to be a Singapore Citizen, aged 2–18 months, and not concurrently enrolled in an ECDA-licensed infant care centre.

If you are moving from an infant care centre, discuss the transition dates with the operator before booking. That helps your family plan the change and confirm eligibility for the intended care period.

If your child falls outside the pilot’s criteria, EduNanny also offers private nanny services for regular and ad-hoc care. This is a separate service with its own arrangements and fees.

How much does childminding cost?

The pilot’s subsidised parent fees are quoted by care block. ECDA publishes them before GST, so check the final payable amount when comparing options.

*The five-hour amount is rounded to the nearest cent. The monthly examples below calculate GST on the total before rounding. These examples cover care fees; ask the team for the complete enrolment quotation.

For 20 billable weekdays, five-hour care comes to S$330 before GST, or S$359.70 including 9% GST. Ten-hour care comes to S$660 before GST, or S$719.40 including 9% GST. These are worked examples, not fixed monthly packages: the actual bill depends on your agreed plan and billable days.

ECDA states that parents can use Child Development Account (CDA) monies to help pay for childminding during the subsidised hours. Ask EduNanny how CDA payment is arranged and which charges are eligible.

Should you choose five hours or ten hours?

A five-hour block may fit a shorter workday or an arrangement where another family member takes over later. A ten-hour block may be more suitable when you need a longer stretch of weekday care.

Plan around the time you actually need, including travel and handover. For example, a five-hour booking does not cover a five-hour work shift plus your journey in both directions. Share your expected drop-off and collection times with the team so the agreed block fits your day.

Subsidised blocks sit within the pilot’s 7am–7pm weekday window. Confirm the start and end time for your chosen location rather than assuming every slot is available throughout that window.

EduNanny subscription or day-use: what is the difference?

Both EduNanny booking options are available in five-hour and ten-hour blocks. The main difference is whether your family needs an enrolled, ongoing place or care on selected dates.

If dependable ongoing care is central to your work arrangements, discuss subscription enrolment early. If you need occasional support, a day-use booking offers flexibility, with availability confirmed for each request.

Before enrolling, read the payment, notice and withdrawal terms and ask any questions you have. The pilot’s published end date is 31 December 2027; if your proposed care period extends beyond it, ask the team how that period would be handled. A placement arrangement should not be read as a promise of government subsidies beyond the published pilot period.

What safety and care standards should parents expect?

ECDA’s pilot requirements include background checks before childminders are deployed and mandatory training in areas such as infant first aid, food safety and infant care. Operators must follow service requirements and industry standards covering infants’ safety, well-being and communication with parents.

When you meet a prospective childminder, bring the conversation down to your baby’s day. Useful questions include:

• Feeding: how will milk, meals, allergies and your instructions be recorded and followed?
• Sleep: where will your infant rest, and how will they be supervised?
• Hygiene: how are changing areas, care equipment and play spaces kept clean?
• Communication: what updates will you receive, and who can you contact with a concern?
• Continuity: what happens if the childminder is unwell or the usual care arrangement is interrupted?

A clear explanation helps you picture the care your child will receive. It also gives the childminder an opportunity to learn the routines and preferences that matter to your family.

Where attentive care and everyday learning meet

At EduNanny, our approach brings together safe care, warm relationships and opportunities for early learning. For infants, these opportunities can be simple: sharing a picture book, naming a familiar object, responding to a babble, or making space for supervised exploration.

Imagine a baby looking from a ball to the adult beside them. The adult notices, names the ball and pauses for the baby’s response. That brief exchange is the kind of everyday interaction we value. It begins with paying attention to the child.

Our small-group approach is designed to make room for those interactions alongside feeding, rest and comfort. We follow each infant’s readiness and interests, so learning remains part of a caring day. Every child develops at their own pace; the aim is to nurture curiosity and confidence without putting them on a fixed milestone timetable.

How to find a place and prepare for the first day

Start with your location, your baby’s age and the care schedule you need. ECDA links to the official Childminder Go Where directory, where parents can search by postal code. You can also contact EduNanny directly to discuss current locations and vacancies.

1. Share your needs. Tell us your infant’s age, postal code, preferred start date, days of care and whether you need five or ten hours.
2. Discuss the setting and meet the childminder. Ask about routines, the group, communication and the practical journey from your home or workplace.
3. Confirm the booking option and full costs. Choose subscription or day-use, check availability, and review the relevant terms and CDA arrangements.
4. Prepare a thoughtful handover. Share feeding and sleep routines, allergies, comfort preferences and emergency contacts, and agree what to bring.

The first few days are a chance for the adults to build a shared understanding of your baby. At collection, ask what helped them settle, what interested them and what the childminder noticed. Those conversations help care feel connected between home and the childminding setting.

Frequently asked questions

Is childminding the same as infant care at a centre?

They are different care settings. The pilot provides small-group care at childminders’ homes or community spaces through appointed operators. Visit the setting and discuss how its routines fit your infant and family.

Can pilot childminding take place in my home?

The pilot model provides care at childminders’ homes or community spaces. If you need care in your own home, ask about EduNanny’s separate private nanny service.

Can I book occasional care without a subscription?

Yes. EduNanny’s day-use / ad-hoc option offers five-hour and ten-hour bookings, subject to availability, with no deposit required.

Does a subscription secure an ongoing place?

EduNanny subscription enrolment provides guaranteed placement until your infant turns 18 months old under the agreed enrolment terms. Confirm the schedule, location, deposit and withdrawal conditions before signing.

Are weekends and public holidays subsidised?

The published subsidy window covers Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Ask the team separately about care outside those hours and the applicable fees.

What happens when my child reaches 18 months?

Plan the next care arrangement with the team ahead of time. Ask about your final pilot-care date and the handover to your chosen next setting, so you have time to organise a smooth transition.