WE THANK Mr Edwin Lim for his Forum Online letter ('Style without substance for kids?'; May 20) regarding Kidz Haven in Boon Lay.

Kidz Haven is an experiential kindergarten run by the PAP Community Foundation (PCF). It aims to provide a creative and caring environment where children can develop the love for learning and discovery.

The centre was developed as part of our strategy to build excellence in PCF kindergartens and to constantly strive towards raising the standards and quality of our programmes.

Kidz Haven was started in Boon Lay to enhance the access of lower-income families to best practices of preschool education. We had informed all parents of our plans, and families with financial difficulties were also provided with financial assistance and subsidies. To date, some 53 students (about 23 per cent) have been granted financial assistance.

At our centre, we provide an informal yet conducive learning environment. The children are sometimes placed in groups to work together and participate in a variety of activities to facilitate their learning. And not all special rooms, such as the dance and drama rooms, have the full complement of furniture due to the nature of their usage.

However, as such rooms are also used as normal classrooms at certain times, we agree with Mr Lim's observation that at those times we do not have enough desks for all children. We will ensure there is sufficient furniture for all.

Mr Lim was concerned about the progress of his daughter. We would like to assure Mr Lim that our teaching staff have observed his daughter to be eloquent and expressive in classes. We have been in contact with her guardians (who have been supportive of the centre to offer their time in our centre's activities and outings) to share with them the progress of his daughter.

We invite Mr Lim to meet the staff at the centre should he wish to be updated on his daughter's progress.

The PCF is committed to provide early childhood education services which are accessible and affordable to all Singaporean families, and of the highest quality. We shall continue to seek new and innovative ways to help our children learn and grow.

Raymond Pang
Head, Corporate Communications
PAP Community Foundation (HQ)

This article was first published in The Straits Times.