Josiah Montessori at a Glance

Josiah Montessori is a private, ECDA-licensed preschool group operating multiple centres across Singapore. It serves children from as young as two months old right through to six years of age, covering the full spectrum of infant care, childcare, and kindergarten. What sets it apart from many other preschools in the city is its in-house integrated curriculum, known as The Josiah Way, which fuses classic Montessori principles with a proprietary Musical Arts Programme (MAP). The school operates on a full-year basis, closing only on public holidays and a small number of pre-determined childcare holidays, which is a practical advantage for working parents who need consistent care coverage.

History & Philosophy

Josiah Montessori was founded in March 1997 by three engineers who were close friends at a multinational company. Their wives were struggling to find a quality preschool for their young toddlers, and after months of planning and discussion, the trio decided to build one themselves. The name “Josiah” was drawn from the Bible — a reference to a young and wise king, raised well by his mother — and it captures the school’s founding belief that every child carries extraordinary potential that good nurturing can unlock.

The school’s mission is to nurture a child’s growth through dedication and love, embracing the uniqueness and individuality of every learner. Its founding principles were rooted in Montessori philosophy, which emphasises independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social developmental needs. Over the years, Josiah has evolved its curriculum in line with modern social expectations and children’s individual needs — and that evolution produced what is now called The Josiah Way.

The Josiah Way: Curriculum Explained

The Josiah Way is the school’s defining pedagogical framework, built on two complementary pillars: Montessori-based learning and the Musical Arts Programme (MAP). Together, they aim to develop children who are academically capable, creatively expressive, and emotionally grounded. The curriculum covers all core Montessori areas — Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Mathematics — and layers on performing-arts learning that most mainstream preschools would charge extra for as an enrichment add-on.

Montessori Component

The Montessori element of the curriculum provides children with a holistic environment for self-directed exploration and the development of motor skills. Classrooms are carefully prepared with child-sized furniture and easily accessible learning materials, so that children can move freely and make independent choices throughout their day. Hands-on Montessori materials turn abstract mathematical concepts into tangible, concrete experiences, while sensorial activities stimulate all five senses to support neurological and psychological development. Language learning — in both English and Mandarin — is embedded through play, phonics work, oral activities, and immersive speech-and-drama sessions.

Musical Arts Programme (MAP)

Developed entirely in-house, the MAP is structured around five distinct enrichment strands that are woven into the weekly timetable rather than offered as optional extras. The five elements are:

• Dance — movement-based learning that builds physical coordination and self-expression
• Singing — vocal development and musical confidence
• Classical Music & Arts Appreciation — cultivating aesthetic sensibility from a young age
• Speech & Drama — oral communication, emotional literacy, and performance confidence
• Arts & Craft — fine motor skills, creativity, and visual expression

The MAP draws on the methodologies of respected music educators including Kodaly, Dalcroze, and Carolyn Lucento. Crucially, parents do not pay extra for these enrichment components — they are included in the standard programme fees, which represents genuine value compared with families who independently enrol their children in separate dance, music, or drama classes.

Additional Enrichment & Support Services

Beyond the core Josiah Way curriculum, some centres offer supplementary programmes including Coding (by Code Play), Swimming (at Suntec City only, by State Swim), and extra arts and craft sessions. Josiah also runs Josiah Enrich, an enrichment programme in Phonetics and Mathematics for children who want accelerated learning support. For families with children with learning or developmental disabilities (LDD), Josiah Care — based at Alexandra Road — provides early intervention services in line with the school’s philosophy of celebrating every child’s individual learning needs.

Programmes & Age Groups

Josiah Montessori structures its care and education into four distinct developmental stages, each with a tailored programme approach:

• Infant Programme (2 months – 18 months): A high-ratio, nurturing care environment focused on physical safety, sensory stimulation, and responsive caregiving. Infant care is available at most childcare branches.
• Toddler Programme (18 months – 3 years): Emphasises self-help skills, independence, concentration, and confidence through practical life activities and gentle Montessori exploration.
• Kindergarten (3 – 5 years, Nursery to K1): The Montessori classroom becomes a child-scaled world. Children work at their own pace across all curriculum areas, with the MAP fully integrated into daily learning.
• Pre-Primary / K2 (6 years): The final year is intentionally designed to bridge the gap between Josiah’s child-led environment and the more structured demands of local and international primary schools, building the academic readiness and social confidence children need for a smooth transition.

Both half-day and full-day options are available, though the specific sessions offered vary by branch. The Tampines centre, for instance, runs Kindergarten AM and PM sessions rather than full-day infant care, so it is worth checking directly with your preferred centre for its programme schedule.

Looking for preschools or enrichment options close to home? Skoolopedia’s preschool directory by MRT station makes it easy to filter by neighbourhood, and you can also explore enrichment centres near MRT stations if you want to supplement your child’s learning outside school hours.

Josiah Montessori Branches in Singapore

Josiah Montessori currently operates seven locations across Singapore, spread across the central, eastern, and western regions of the island. Here is a complete branch list with addresses:

• Suntec (Infant Care & Childcare): 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-618 to 620, Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
• Tampines (Kindergarten — AM/PM sessions): 5 Tampines Street 32, #02-01 Tampines Mart, Singapore 529284
• Changi / Changi Business Park (Infant Care & Childcare): 1 Changi Business Park Crescent, Singapore 486025
• Aperia / Kallang (Infant Care & Childcare): 12 Kallang Avenue, #03-37, Singapore 339511
• Raffles / Raffles Place (Infant Care & Childcare): 14 Robinson Road, #05-01 Far East Finance Building, Singapore 048545
• Pasir Ris (Infant Care & Childcare): 1 Pasir Ris Terrace, Singapore 518645
• JosiahCare — Alexandra (Neurodiverse Learning Centre): 456 Alexandra Road, #04-01 Fragrance Empire Building, Singapore 119962

The Raffles and Suntec branches are particularly convenient for parents who work in the CBD or Marina Bay district. The Aperia (Kallang) and Changi Business Park centres cater well to families in the central-east corridor, while Pasir Ris and Tampines serve the eastern heartlands. For parents looking for student care or after-school options as their children grow older, Skoolopedia also maintains a handy student care directory by MRT to help plan ahead.

Josiah Montessori Fees 2026

As a private preschool operator, Josiah Montessori’s fees are not subject to the government fee caps that apply to Anchor and Partner Operators. Fees vary depending on the branch, the programme type (half-day vs. full-day), and the age group of the child. Based on publicly available information, the indicative fee ranges are as follows:

• Infant Care (full-day): Up to approximately S$2,300 per month, excluding GST
• Childcare (full-day): Up to approximately S$1,900 per month, excluding GST
• Registration Fee: Approximately S$500 (one-time)
• Booking Deposit: Payable upon enrolment (amount varies by centre)

These figures represent the upper range of fees. Half-day kindergarten programmes, such as those at the Tampines branch, are typically lower than full-day childcare rates. It is always advisable to contact your preferred centre directly or visit the school for a tour to obtain exact, current fees, as individual centres may have slightly different pricing structures.

It is also worth noting that infant care fees are generally higher than childcare fees across the industry, reflecting the higher caregiver-to-child ratio required for very young children. The integration of the Musical Arts Programme within the standard fees — rather than as a paid add-on — means that Josiah’s headline fees can represent meaningful value when compared to families who separately enrol children in music, dance, or drama enrichment classes.

Government Subsidies You Can Apply For

Although Josiah Montessori is a private operator and its fees are not capped by ECDA, Singapore Citizen children enrolled at the school are still eligible for government subsidies, since the centres are ECDA-licensed. This can meaningfully reduce your net monthly cost. Here is a summary of the subsidies available as of 2026:

• Infant Care Basic Subsidy: Up to S$600 per month for working main applicants; S$150 for non-working main applicants
• Infant Care Additional Subsidy: Up to S$710 per month for eligible families (means-tested by household income)
• Childcare Basic Subsidy: Up to S$300 per month for working main applicants; S$150 for non-working main applicants
• Childcare Additional Subsidy: Up to S$467 per month for eligible families (means-tested)

To qualify for the Additional Subsidy, your gross monthly household income must currently be S$12,000 or below (or per capita income of S$3,000 or below for households of five or more members). Following Budget 2026, the income ceiling will be raised to S$15,000 from January 2027, which will extend eligibility to more middle-income families. Subsidy applications can be submitted via the LifeSG app or through your child’s preschool centre, which will guide you through the process. The subsidy is disbursed directly to the centre, and you pay only the net fee.

Teachers & Learning Environment

Josiah requires all its main teachers to hold the Diploma of Early Childhood Curriculum and Education (DECCE) or an equivalent qualification. Beyond this formal credential, each teacher must complete 100 hours of in-house training based on The Josiah Way framework before they begin working directly with children. This structured onboarding means that even newly qualified teachers arrive in the classroom already familiar with the school’s specific pedagogy, routines, and values — an important safeguard for parents placing very young children into care.

Classroom environments are intentionally designed with child safety and developmental needs in mind. Child-sized furniture, purposefully arranged learning materials, dedicated music and dance rooms, life skills areas, and outdoor play spaces are standard features across Josiah’s centres. The school maintains smaller teacher-to-child ratios at each level to ensure that every child receives individualised guidance. Progress is documented daily, and teachers communicate with parents on a consistent and timely basis about each child’s learning and wellbeing. Josiah also follows strict hygiene protocols, including regular sanitisation, and has clear pick-up and drop-off security procedures in place.

What Parents Are Saying

Parent feedback for Josiah Montessori is broadly positive across its various branches, with recurring themes of caring and patient teachers, a nurturing environment, and visible developmental progress in their children. Here is a balanced summary of what families have shared:

Positive Feedback

• Attentive and dedicated staff: Multiple parents highlight the patience and genuine warmth of teachers, particularly in the infant care programmes. One parent at the Suntec branch praised teachers who patiently assisted with their child’s feeding challenges, while a parent at the Changi Business Park branch noted the “friendly and caring nature” of staff and their evident love for the children.
• Visible learning outcomes: Parents frequently comment on how their children arrive home with surprising new skills and knowledge. One Changi parent shared that the curriculum had improved both academic inclination and self-help abilities in her daughters — and that the girls looked forward to going to school each day.
• Strong bilingual development: The integration of English and Mandarin across speech, drama, and daily learning is consistently noted as a differentiating feature.
• Confidence and social growth: Several testimonials describe children who became noticeably more confident, communicative, and socially adept after joining Josiah — including children who initially showed signs of slower development.
• Beautiful, clean facilities: Parents regularly mention the aesthetic quality and cleanliness of the environments, with one parent rating the school “10 stars” for its welcoming atmosphere.

Points of Consideration

• Montessori material quality: At least one parent observer at the Changi Business Park branch noted that some materials in use did not align with traditional Montessori standards, describing them as plastic rather than the classic wooden Montessori materials. Parents who are purists about authentic Montessori materials may want to raise this during a school visit.
• Fee changes: One parent mentioned that a fee review was announced after a few months of enrolment, which caught them off guard. It is worth asking directly about the school’s fee revision history and notice period when you visit.
• Variable experience by branch: As with any multi-branch preschool, the experience can differ between centres depending on the specific teachers and management team. Visiting your shortlisted branch in person remains the most reliable way to assess fit.

Pros & Cons

To summarise the key considerations for parents evaluating Josiah Montessori:

• Pro: Unique curriculum combining Montessori principles and performing arts — included in fees, no extras needed
• Pro: Nearly 30 years of operational experience and a well-established reputation in Singapore
• Pro: Broad age coverage from 2 months to 6 years, supporting long-term continuity of care
• Pro: Multiple strategically located branches across the island
• Pro: Strong bilingual (English and Mandarin) focus from early childhood
• Pro: Inclusive support for children with learning or developmental disabilities through Josiah Care
• Con: Higher fees than government-supported (Anchor/Partner Operator) preschools
• Con: Branch experience and quality of Montessori materials may vary; in-person visits are important
• Con: As a private operator, fees are not capped — periodic fee revisions are possible

Is Josiah Montessori Right for Your Child?

Josiah Montessori is a strong option for parents who want a well-rounded, holistic early childhood education that goes beyond academic preparation. The Josiah Way — blending Montessori’s child-led discovery with a rich performing-arts programme — is genuinely distinctive, and the fact that MAP is bundled into standard fees adds real value to what is otherwise a premium price point. The school’s long operational track record, trained teaching staff, and broad age coverage from infancy to pre-primary make it a viable option for families who want to establish continuity of care in one place.

That said, it is not the right fit for every family. Parents on tighter budgets may find the fees challenging, particularly for infant care. Those who are passionate about traditional, certified Montessori materials and classroom purity may want to probe the specifics of individual branches. And as with any preschool decision, the quality of teachers at your local branch matters more than any school’s overarching brand. A school visit — ideally including a tour of the classroom in session — is the most valuable step you can take before committing.

If you are still comparing options across Singapore, Skoolopedia’s MRT-based preschool directory lets you shortlist centres by proximity to your home or workplace, and the Skoolopedia Parents’ Choices Awards provides community-validated ratings to help you compare top-rated preschools side by side.