Whistle Woods Schoolhouse (Bukit Timah)

Whistle Woods Schoolhouse is a charming boutique preschool set within the rustic and tranquil surroundings of Bukit Timah. Inspired by the nearby nature reserve, our logo, with its graphic trees, symbolises our connection to nature. Upon a closer look, one might also see the subtle imagery of thumbprints, highlighting our recognition that each child is a unique individual. These thumbprints, or trees, are designed with irregular edges to represent growth that is messy, but also natural and beautiful.

Our curriculum is primarily guided by Waldorf and Montessori educational philosophies, which is then augmented by contemporary evidence in children’s developmental psychology. We take a “whole person” approach, referring to the education of the head, heart, hands and body. From Waldorf, we learn to let children’s imaginations take flight and encourage it within a natural learning environment. From Montessori, we learn to respect children as individuals who are capable of self-help and self-directed learning. We believe that the underlying basis for younger children’s learning and growth is through human connection and time-honoured methods of discovery such as reading, playing and creating, hence parents can feel assured that their children will learn and play in a 100% tech-free environment.

English and Mandarin are the languages spoken and taught in our schoolhouse. The children are exposed to both languages almost equally over the course of a day. Language and speech development is achieved through daily authentic conversations, poems, rhymes, music, movement and stories. And most of all, at the heart of our curriculum is a focus on nurturing a lifelong love for reading.

Our mixed-age group settings benefit the younger child and the older child in different ways. Younger ones are often impressed by what older children can do and learn by observing and imitating them. Older children are often proud to be relied on and can hone their caring and leadership skills in school. We have two mixed-age groups in our schoolhouse – Basil is for 18 months to 3 years+, while Parsley is for 4 years to 6 years. Studies show that a low educator-to-child ratio promotes the best outcomes in the classroom, benefiting both educators’ and children’s well-being. Hence, the ratio for Basil is kept at 1:6, while the ratio for Parsley is 1:12.