SINGAPORE — They got to think of names for their class and had their parents by their side as they went through orientation and other activities, such as decorating cubbyholes and during show-and-tell.

These “privileges” all made for a less nervy first day of school for the five-year-olds attending kindergartens run by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The five kindergartens, which started their K1 classes yesterday — at Punggol View, Blangah Rise, Farrer Park and Dazhong primary schools, as well as one at a void deck in Tampines — are among 15 that the Government will set up by 2016, in its bid to raise quality in the pre-school sector.

These kindergartens will use the latest research in early childhood education to develop good teaching methods and practices that can be shared with other pre-schools. Their curriculum is play-based and have local themes.

Orientation at the Tampines kindergarten included a show-and-tell of drawings and crafts. Mohd Nasir, who watched his daughter present her drawings in front of the class, said: “It’s not something you usually see in kindergartens during orientation. It builds up (the children’s) confidence and is a good way for them to get to know one another.”

At MOE Kindergarten @ Punggol View, the children — dressed in blue tops and khaki bottoms — were taken on a tour by their teachers and enjoyed activities such as singing and reading story books for the rest of the day.

Addressing parents’ call for childcare and transport services, Punggol View Primary has collaborated with service providers to offer kindercare and school bus services, while Blangah Rise Primary will house a kindercare on its premises.

Parents had previously cited the lack of childcare and transport options as reasons for choosing other pre-schools.

Raffles Student Care Centre runs the kindercare next to the Punggol View kindergarten, while Mendaki Social Enterprise Network Singapore manages the one in Blangah Rise Primary.

Responding to queries, the MOE said parents will be able to enjoy the equivalent of the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s childcare subsidy for the half-day care programme. For low-income families, the fee can be as low as S$2 each month after subsidies.

Mr Han Sheng Heng, 41, decided to enrol his daughter in Punggol View’s kindergarten after being offered childcare services as he and his wife both work. He hoped it would help make “the transition to Primary One (in the same school) not so drastic”.