Where nurturing hearts meet growing minds: How early childhood educators create lasting impact

One of Ms Joanne Seow’s most rewarding moments as an early childhood educator came when a five-year-old student with special needs handed her a handwritten note saying “I love Teacher Joanne.”

For the 25-year-old PCF Sparkletots teacher, this milestone was more than just a touching moment. It was a breakthrough that validated months of her hard work, from customising a picture-based communication book to designing specialised worksheets to build writing confidence. 

“One impactful lesson I’ve learnt is to celebrate small wins,” she adds. “As adults, we expect a lot and overlook the little things worth celebrating. But for young children, these small victories are life-changing milestones.”

For her dedication to bringing out the best in every child, Ms Seow was awarded the 2024 Leading Foundation Teacher Award (Early Childhood) from the National Institute of Education. 

Recognising her passion for teaching, PCF Sparkletots supported her journey while she pursued her degree in Early Childhood Education with a Special Needs minor in 2022.

Ms Seow loves how her job enables her to be part of a child’s transformative years.

“It is a deeply fulfilling career because every day brings new opportunities to spark curiosity, build confidence and celebrate the little milestones along the journey,” she says.

“The connections you form with the children and their families, combined with the joy of seeing your efforts make a real difference, make this field rewarding.”

This supportive environment extends beyond individual classrooms at PCF Sparkletots.

Growing as a leader in bilingual education

For many pre-school teachers, PCF Sparkletots is more than just a workplace. “It is a community that prioritises mentorship, career growth and innovation,” says centre principal Qian Xiaoli.

Having been in the industry for more than a decade, Ms Qian says her career has been enriched by the diverse opportunities she was given. She started as a Chinese language teacher in 2011 and rose through the ranks to become a centre principal.

“My strengths have always been my enthusiasm, dedication and positive attitude. But when it came to English, I saw it as an area where I wished to push myself to further improve in,” she admits.

The 37-year-old credits her mentors for guiding her and helping her adapt to new challenges such as language barriers and making the jump from teaching to leadership roles. “For me, every step has been met with encouragement and opportunities to learn and grow,” she adds. 

Lead centre principal Janni Sutanto was one of them. To complement Ms Qian’s Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature, Ms Sutanto encouraged her to pursue an Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Leadership in 2018. That experience taught her to overcome her language barriers by focusing on communicating effectively and learning from every interaction during the diploma programme.

Ms Janni also entrusted her with the mentoring of early childhood education students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, an experience that bolstered her confidence in English and gave her valuable insights into the English curriculum.

Armed with her expertise in curriculum and pedagogy, Ms Qian was selected to join PCF Headquarters in 2020 as a Chinese language specialist, where she co-led the development of the One Mother Tongue Language (OneMTL) curriculum in Chinese Language. Currently, more than 350 centres use the OneMTL curriculum. 

Three years later, Ms Qian returned to centre-based work, this time as a centre principal bringing a wealth of experiences to support her team. She conducts bilingual sharing sessions and professional development workshops in her centre to foster a positive learning environment.

Reflecting on her professional growth from Chinese language teacher to centre bilingual curriculum leader, Ms Qian says: “Children remain my greatest motivation. Seeing them reach milestones, build confidence and experience the joy of learning is immensely rewarding. 

“I view education as a bridge between cultures, helping children appreciate their heritage while embracing the world around them.”

This vision of bridging different ways of learning also drives innovation at PCF Sparkletots.

Fostering critical thinking through play

The same motivation fuels senior centre principal Nur Sri Dewi Rahmat, who has had more than 12 years at PCF Sparkletots. She has witnessed the changes in the early childhood education landscape. 

“It’s become more dynamic, with a greater emphasis on holistic, child-centred approaches. There’s been a shift towards incorporating creative methods, like the arts, into our curriculum, which helps in engaging children on multiple levels,” she says.

While on the Overseas Learning Experience Programme (OLEP) in the US state of Minnesota in 2023, Ms Dewi observed that teachers there included a lot of nature play in their curriculum. 

Inspired to provide her students with more hands-on experiences, the 40-year-old created a Makerspace and Loose Parts Play area at her centre.

A Makerspace encourages creativity, exploration and problem-solving through the use of tools, materials and technologies. Meanwhile, Loose Parts Play encourages children to interact with a variety of open-ended materials, known as “loose parts” which they can move, combine, redesign, take apart and reassemble in countless ways.

The children under Ms Dewi’s care have been inspired by their weekly visits to the centre’s Makerspace, which complements PCF Sparkletots’ approach to STEMIE (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Invention and Entrepreneurship).

One student collaborated with her classmates to create a smart cubby hole that would beep if the door was left open. Together, they brainstormed how to integrate circuits to make their alert system work – showcasing how the space nurtures both creativity and problem-solving skills.

Ms Dewi’s leadership as well as her efforts to integrate creative play-based methods into the curriculum at PCF Sparkletots culminated in her earning the Outstanding Early Childhood Leader Award (Commendation) at the 2024 ECDA Awards.

Paying it forward, Ms Dewi conducts mentoring workshops where she shares her expertise and teaches her team to become mentors themselves. She empowers her teachers with effective teaching strategies, helping them grow into independent and collaborative educators.

She says: “If you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone, the leadership at PCF Sparkletots will encourage and support you every step of the way. There are always new methods to learn, courses to attend, and experiences to gain. 

“Remember that your passion for teaching is your greatest asset. It’s what keeps you resilient through challenges and makes a lasting impact on the children’s lives.”