SINGAPORE PRESCHOOL ACCREDITATION FRAMEWORK (SPARK 2.0)

Accreditation

Accreditation is a formal recognition that a preschool meets established quality standards. Through a rigorous validation process conducted by authorised bodies, accreditation provides assurance to stakeholders that the preschool adheres to industry best practices and maintains high professional standards.

Accreditation Levels
There are two levels of accreditation – Certification and Commendation. Preschools apply for a specific level based on their self-appraised standards. ECDA then validates the preschools’ application accordingly.

Criteria to achieve Certification and Commendation Levels
Using the SPARK 2.0 tool, preschools must meet the following criteria:

For Certification:

For Commendation:

It is important to note that to meet a specific band, all preceding bands must first be met.

For detailed information on these standards, please refer to the SPARK 2.0 tool which is downloadable from CMS.

Accreditation Process
Only ECDA-licensed preschools that have met the eligibility criteria may apply for accreditation. Accreditation involves a validation process conducted by SPARK officers.

As part of the accreditation process, preschools must submit a self-appraisal report. This report, accompanied by supporting documentation, should reflect the preschool's practices across various quality areas and demonstrate its standards and achievements. The submission provides SPARK officers with insights into the preschool's operations before their site visit.

During the visit, SPARK officers validate the information provided in the preschool’s self-appraisal report by examining various aspects of its processes, teaching practices, and learning environment. This includes conducting observations, interviewing preschool leaders and educators, and reviewing documentation.

The validation outcome and report will be presented to the preschools approximately two to three months after the site visit. During the presentation, SPARK officers will share the validation findings, highlighting key strengths and the recommendations for growth (RFGs) with the preschools. Preschools will receive a copy of the validation report.

For detailed information on eligibility criteria, accreditation process and application procedure, please refer to the “SPARK 2.0 Application Guide” in the Resources section in the Centre Management System (CMS).