From Preschool to Primary: Building Learners Ready for Big School
By Katie Terry, Owner & Rohini Ramadas, Principal, Rain Trees International Kindergarten & Preschool.
Moving from preschool to primary school is one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life. At Rain Trees International Kindergarten in Singapore parents want to know their children will not only be academically ready but also confident, independent and resilient enough to flourish in a larger, more structured setting.
At Rain Trees, we place great importance on making that transition feel natural, building bridges rather than huge leaps.
What the Bigger Schools say: Evidence of Our Strengths
Recently, we were delighted to host a joint discussion with teachers and parents alongside the team from UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA). Their reflections echoed what many international school admissions teams observe: Rain Trees graduates arrive well prepared, adaptable, socially confident and ready to thrive. These are exactly the qualities parents look for when considering primary school options.
Timing Matters: Individual Pace and Development
One of the key takeaways from the evening with UWCSEA was that there is no single “right” age to move on. Children develop at different rates.Sometimes, spending an extra year in a smaller, nurturing environment like Rain Trees gives them the time to grow confidence, independence and problem-solving skills that make for a smoother transition to larger primary schools.
Regardless of which school our students head on to children who come through Rain Trees are curious, mature, socially confident and ready to adapt.
Shared Values: Alignment with Leading International Schools
Mallika Ramdas, Director of Admissions at UWCSEA, put it this way:
“The synergies between our two schools are many, including the fact that UWCSEA has welcomed many former Rain Trees students over the years, but more importantly, that our schools share the same values: a child-centred learning approach in a caring, supportive and environmentally aware environment. The programme at Rain Trees facilitates a natural transition to UWCSEA’s larger but still nurturing environment.”
At Rain Trees, we cultivate values that many leading international schools look for: empathy, resilience, curiosity, kindness and a respect for sustainability. These values are embedded in our daily approach, our curriculum and the way we care for each child.
A Parent’s Perspective: Kindness, Resilience and Curiosity in Practice
Our community is the best testament to our success. One past Rain Trees parent, Sarah Vaulkhard (maybe add here where she is from/expat?) whose three children have now joined their next school shared this reflection:
“My three children all attended Raintrees from the age of two. We chose the school because of the exceptional calibre of the teachers and staff, and the wonderful, homely feel of the environment.
My children moved on to “big school” at different stages. One moved at Reception, another in Year 1, and the youngest in Nursery. Rain Trees prepared them all beautifully for this transition. The love of learning, confidence and self-assurance instilled in them meant that they settled in quickly and adapted easily to their new schools. I also found that they were often ahead in their learning compared to many of their peers.
Rain Trees is more than a kindergarten, it is a warm, nurturing community that truly feels like your Singapore family.”
Rohini Ramadas, Principal of Rain Trees, explains:
“Transitions can feel daunting for families, but they don’t have to be. With thoughtful timing suited to the individual child, the right foundations and the care of our nurturing teaching team, children can step into their next school feeling confident and capable.”
These are some of the ways Rain Trees help children make a smooth transition to primary school:
- Small class sizes and strong teacher-to-child ratios allow for personalised attention.
Learn more about our approach - A play-based curriculum aligned with the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) balances structured learning with exploratory, hands-on experiences.
Discover our curriculum - Our large, green outdoor learning spaces provide rich opportunities for physical development, curiosity, exploration and problem solving.
Explore our outdoor environment - A strong focus on social and emotional development, independence and resilience.
Read about our small-school community - Support for language development, with daily English, Mandarin sessions and optional immersion. Find out more about our preschool programme
Stepping into Primary with Confidence
At Rain Trees, our aim is not just academic readiness but readiness in character, confidence, adaptability and well-being. Whether the next school is local to us in Holland Village, Singapore or abroad, we prepare our young graduates to thrive.
If you are curious about how we support a child’s move into primary school, visit Rain Trees or speak to the team to learn more.
Rain Trees International Kindergarten & Preschool is based at Holland Village in Singapore and was established in 1999 and attracts internationally minded parents working and living in Singapore.