Primary Caregiving System: Supporting Continuity of Care for Infants in Singapore

In Singapore, childcare centres are expected to implement a primary caregiving system for infants aged 2 to 18 months (Early Childhood Development Agency, 2021). The system assigns a qualified educator to each infant as their primary caregiver to ensure continuity and stability of care within a small group setting. As infant care demand increases in Singapore, it is critical to examine the quality of care provided. Yet, research on the impact of a primary caregiving system on the quality of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) remains limited. This study examined how a primary caregiving system contributes to the continuity of care for infants, based on the perspectives of key stakeholders (including parents, educators and principals) from six selected childcare centres in Singapore. Using a mixed-methods approach, data was collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Thematic and descriptive analyses were used for the qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. Findings revealed two key themes in pedagogical practices, consistently identified by all three participant groups, which support the continuity of care between home and childcare centres. They are: (1) using information obtained from parents to care for infants, and (2) maintaining regular communication with parents. Such practices within a primary caregiving system encouraged parent-educator partnerships and facilitated smoother transitions for infants. Findings from this study also underscore the critical role of effectively implementing the primary caregiving system in supporting the quality of care, learning and developmental outcomes for infants in educational settings.