Leaders

Amother’s heart beats with a strength unlike any other. This universal truth is reflected in the story of Cherry H. Boekhorst, who established Lily Valley Preschool in Singapore. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: children deserve space, care, and an environment that fosters their growth and allows them to thrive.

Guided by her mother’s influence as a teacher and being a cautious mother, Cherry has transformed a moment of personal pain into a lifelong mission, shaping early education in Singapore with empathy, creativity, and conviction.

Cherry’s professional journey began in the interior design industry, and for seven years, she thrived in the creative world of design. However, motherhood changed everything.

When her daughter turned two, Cherry began searching for a preschool, an experience that exposed shortcomings of early childhood care in Singapore. Trusting the reputation, she enrolled her child in a well-known preschool chain, only to face a heartbreaking incident of finding her daughter, sick and unattended, leaning weakly against a school gate. That moment turned out to be a bold career shift.

Cherry resolved to create something better. With her husband's support, she opened her own childcare center in 2004. What started with just two children quickly flourished into a school of over 120 students within three years. She has nurtured the center for 13 years into a safe and vibrant community before passing it on to another preschool group.

In 2011, Cherry was honoured with the ‘Exemplary Employer of the Year’ award by Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development, becoming the first and only professional in the industry to receive this recognition. She also became a visible voice for the industry, representing early childhood education on Channel News Asia, Channel U, Channel 8, and radio 95.8. Her insights were sought in panel discussions alongside ministers and parents, shaping conversations on the future of early learning in Singapore.

What led your foray into the field of early education? Highlight your key areas of expertise as an educator.

I entered early childhood education because of my own experience with my daughter. That encounter gave me the determination to step into this field, even though I had no formal background at the time. When I opened my school in 2004, I quickly realized that running a center took more than just meeting regulations; it required knowledge, conviction, and heart.

Further, I enrolled in a part-time diploma in early childhood education. Over the years, I went on to pursue a leadership diploma and eventually a bachelor’s degree, all while managing my school. I also discovered my strength in communication and leadership, believing in listening, empathizing, and putting myself in others' shoes.

A turning point came in 2006, when I discovered the Reggio Emilia philosophy during an exhibition in Germany. It affirmed everything I believed children deserved: respect, freedom of expression, and recognition of their voices. From that moment, I shifted away from rigid, traditional teaching toward a play-based, inquiry-driven approach.

Introduce us to Lily Valley Preschool. What’s the underlying idea and vision behind the educational institution?

Lily Valley Preschool was established in 2022. It was founded by a very special couple who are deeply passionate about children, strongly believing that profit and quality education should never be at odds.

With my husband’s support, we helped them search for the right location, design, and set up the entire school. The founders and I share the same belief: that quality education depends on the right approach. For us, that means embracing the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which I have been passionate about for years.

The vision for Lily Valley is clear: it’s a not-for-profit preschool, meant to be self-sustaining, but never driven by profit. The focus is on giving children the best care and education possible.

Which methodologies and pedagogies do you leverage at Lily Valley Preschool to facilitate positive learning outcomes?

The key methodology we follow is Reggio Emilia, and our pedagogy is very much play-based, but with a strong emphasis on inquiry and projects. Every ten weeks, we start a new project that allows children to go in-depth and really connect new knowledge to what they already know, so they are not just memorizing facts, but actually building understanding step by step.

Children don’t naturally understand concepts like the past or different eras, so through play setups, storytelling, videos, and hands-on activities, we help them connect the dots. It’s all about sparking curiosity, encouraging their questions, and then diving deeper with them. That way, learning becomes meaningful, interconnected, and led by their own interests.

How is Singapore’s early education land­scape evolving? Which industry trends are you aligning Lily Valley Preschool with?

Having been in this industry for 20 years, I have seen a significant rise in Singapore’s early childhood education. In the early 2000s, it was more traditional, very academic-focused. Today, there are many more play-based and inquiry-based centers, which is a positive shift.

With AI and tools like ChatGPT, children don't need to just memorize answers anymore. What they need are deeper skills: how to ask the right questions, how to analyze, and how to think critically. And that’s exactly what we focus on at Lily Valley: going beyond surface learning into real inquiry.

Singapore’s education system is moving in this direction; by 2027, O-levels will be phased out to better prepare students for the future. I truly believe we are on the right track, teaching children not just what to think, but how to think.

Cherry H. Boekhorst, Principal, Lily Valley Preschool

Cherry H. Boekhorst, Principal of Lily Valley Preschool, is a pioneering voice in Singapore’s early childhood education. Having a thriving career in the creative world, motherhood brought an impactful transition. Her journey began in 2004, when a personal experience as a mother drove her to open her first childcare center, starting with just two children and growing it into a thriving community within three years. Cherry has become a respected advocate for child-centered learning, championing inquiry-based education, preparing children not just to memorize answers, but to think critically and ask meaningful questions.