Over 300 educators from Crestar Education Group’s preschool brands including ELFA Preschool, Kinderland Academy & Preschool and NurtureStars Preschool gathered on 4 July 2025 for a collaborative Professional Development Day (PD Day). Hosted at YWCA Fort Canning and Singapore Shopping Centre and organised by KLC International Institute (KLCII), the event highlighted the Group’s commitment to advancing inclusive practices across its preschools.
Building on last year’s large-scale event, this year’s PD Day took a fresh, more focused approach, offering educators deeper insights and practical tools to prepare for the evolving educational landscape.
Among the range of workshops at the event, KLCII conducted “The Inclusive Classroom,” facilitated by Ms Irene Ong, Product Development Manager of KLCII. Prior to the session, Dr Chua Ying Hwee, CEO and Principal of KLCII, introduced the “Every Child · Every Teacher” (ECET) initiative, a ground-up effort designed to equip teachers with practical skills and strategies to better respond to the diverse needs of every child in their classrooms. Through ECET, KLCII aims to empower educators to foster inclusive learning environments where every child can flourish.
Dr Chua Ying Hwee, CEO and Principal of KLCII sharing the ECET initiative
During the workshop, participants explored inclusion beyond mere participation, learning how to create classrooms where every child feels valued and can engage meaningfully. Using tools like the Empathy Map and Reflective Practice Cycle, teachers gained deeper understanding of children’s behaviours as expressions of their feelings and needs, guiding more empathetic responses.
Irene Ong, Product Development Manager of KLCII conducting “The Inclusive Classroom” workshop
The workshop emphasised curriculum modification, demonstrating how small, intentional adjustments to activities, materials, and environments can remove barriers and enable all children to participate fully without lowering expectations.
Educators also reflected on the main purpose behind their strategies, focusing on fostering belonging and meaningful participation rather than mere compliance. They were equipped with simple, consistent phrases to explain differentiated support to children and parents, reinforcing the idea that fairness means meeting individual needs, not treating everyone the same.
Group photo of educators from ELFA Preschool, Kinderland Academy & Preschool, and NurtureStars Preschool participating in “The Inclusive Classroom” workshop.
The session concluded with a reminder that being future-ready is not solely about technology adoption but about compassion, connection, and intentional inclusion — one child, one teacher, one moment at a time.
In addition to this workshop, PD Day featured sessions on applying Artificial Intelligence tools in education, supporting emotional intelligence development, and fostering safe, healthy classrooms, showcasing a balanced approach to preparing educators for the future.
KLCII continues to invest in educators’ growth, nurturing a community of reflective and empathetic teachers ready to lead inclusive, innovative early childhood classrooms.
For more information on KLCII’s continuous professional development courses, please [click here].
Organisations interested in customised mass training sessions may contact Mr Derrick Lee at [email protected].
To learn more about the “Every Child · Every Teacher” (ECET) initiative, please [click here].
