Student care centres in Singapore: fees, subsidies, a typical day and how to register

A student care centre (SCC) in Singapore looks after primary school children between the end of school and the end of the working day. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) describes SCCs as centres run by commercial companies or social service agencies, located inside schools or in the community, that give care and supervision outside school hours. Fees vary a lot: GenieHouse lists $780 a month before GST and Mind Sparks $940 ($1,024.60 with GST) on their own sites. The subsidy comes from MSF, not MOE. Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) pays up to $290 a month for working families with a household income of $4,500 or less, rising to $6,500 from January 2027. This guide covers what centres offer, a typical day, fees, SCFA and how to register.

What a student care centre is

Primary school ends in the early afternoon, and SCCs cover the gap until parents finish work. MSF's directory describes before- and after-school care for primary school students, with supervision, meals, homework support and enrichment activities. SCFA covers children up to Secondary 2, though many centres take primary school children only; GenieHouse lists Primary 1 to 6, and Morning Star ages 7 to 12.

There are two kinds, and the difference matters most for pick-up.

Big Heart, for example, says it was set up in 2015 to run 30 school-based centres inside public schools. To find centres near you, MSF's online directory lets you search student care centres by postal code within a distance of 0.5 to 6km. Centres registered with MSF must meet requirements on the physical environment, health, safety, supervision and structured programming, and are audited to check they keep doing so. For children with special needs, MSF points parents to SG Enable, which lists Special Student Care Centres.

What a typical day looks like

Timetables differ, but the pattern is similar across centres. These examples come from the published timetables of Thrive After-school (Julia Gabriel) and in:genius Student Care (NASCANS). Thrive runs from 1pm to 7pm on school days and from 8am to 7pm in the MOE school holidays.

NASCANS notes that primary schools end around 1pm to 1.30pm and that most centres close at 7pm. Ask any centre you're considering how homework is checked, what meals are included, and what happens in the school holidays, when the day is much longer.

How much student care costs

Few centres publish their fees, so expect to ask. These are the published figures we found on centres' own sites on 11 October 2026. Prices are before SCFA, and GST at 9% applies on top where stated.

When you compare quotes, ask what the monthly fee includes in the holidays, whether there's a holiday surcharge, and what the registration fee, deposit and late pick-up charges are. Our enrichment budget planner helps if you're weighing student care against classes and a helper, and the school bus fee calculator covers transport costs.

SCFA: the student care subsidy

Student Care Fee Assistance is run by MSF under ComCare. On SupportGoWhere, the government's scheme finder (scheme last updated 9 September 2026), SCFA pays up to $290 a month towards fees at an MSF-registered centre, plus a one-time Start-Up Grant of up to $400 per child. How much you get depends on your household income and your centre's fee.

• Your child is aged 7 to 14 (Primary 1 to Secondary 2) in the year the subsidy starts.
• Both parents each work at least 56 hours a month.
• Your child is a Singapore citizen, or a permanent resident with at least one immediate family member in the household who is a citizen.
• Gross household income is $4,500 a month or less for families of four or fewer, or $1,125 or less per person for larger families. From January 2027, MSF raises this to $6,500, or $1,625 per person.
• The centre must be registered with MSF as an SCFA administrator.

Families of children at a Special Student Care Centre qualify up to a household income of $9,200 (or $2,300 per person), MSF says, for children aged 7 to 18, with fees after subsidy from $11 a month. Our SCFA calculator works out your subsidy and what you'd pay each month, now and from January 2027.

How to register, step by step

1. Ask your child's primary school whether it has a school-based SCC, and search MSF's directory by postal code for community centres near home or school.
2. Visit two or three centres, look at the homework area, ask about staff, meals and the holiday programme, and ask for the fee sheet.
3. Check the centre is registered with MSF as an SCFA administrator if you plan to claim the subsidy.
4. When you register with the centre, expect a registration form, a registration fee and a deposit, as GenieHouse lists.
5. Apply for SCFA on SupportGoWhere, where applications can go in up to six months before the start date; for a January 2027 start, you can apply from July 2026. Approval starts from the month your application is received, so apply as soon as you can.
6. Plan the first weeks, since Primary 1 children in particular need help with the new routine; tell the centre about allergies, pick-up arrangements and who may collect your child.

If your application is turned down, SupportGoWhere says appeals are considered case by case and, if approved, start from the month of the appeal. The ComCare hotline is 1800-222-0000. If your child is starting Primary 1, our guide to P1 registration covers the school side.

How to choose a centre

• Start with location: a school-based centre saves the walk from school; a community centre near home can make evening pick-up easier.
• Ask who checks homework and spelling, and how they let you know when your child is struggling.
• The holidays mean full days, so ask what's planned, whether outings cost extra, and the hours.
• Check what lunch and tea include, and how allergies are handled.
• Most centres close at 7pm, so know the late pick-up charge before you need it.
• MSF registration is required for SCFA and means the centre is audited on safety and supervision.

Student care isn't the only option. Some families use grandparents or a helper, which our maid levy calculator helps you cost, and many mix student care with enrichment classes. For the younger years, our preschool directory lists every ECDA centre by town.

Frequently asked questions

How much is student care in Singapore?

It varies by centre. On their own sites (read 11 October 2026), GenieHouse lists $780 a month before GST and Mind Sparks $940 a month ($1,024.60 with GST). Many centres don't publish fees, so ask for a fee sheet. SCFA can cut the cost by up to $290 a month for eligible families.

Is the student care subsidy from MOE or MSF?

MSF. Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) is run by the Ministry of Social and Family Development under ComCare, and you apply on SupportGoWhere.

Who qualifies for SCFA?

Children aged 7 to 14 who are citizens, or PRs with a citizen in the household, whose parents each work at least 56 hours a month and whose household income is $4,500 or less ($6,500 from January 2027), at an MSF-registered centre.

When should I apply for SCFA?

As early as you can. SupportGoWhere takes applications up to six months before the start date, and approval starts from the month your application is received.

What time do student care centres close?

Most close at 7pm on weekdays. Thrive After-school, for example, runs from 1pm to 7pm on school days and 8am to 7pm in the school holidays.

Can my child go to student care at their own school?

Many primary schools have a school-based student care centre run by a partner operator. Ask your child's school, or search MSF's directory by postal code.