Yeo Siqi is an early childhood educator, mother, researcher, and play advocate committed to reimagining what early education can — and should — be.

After a career in private banking, Siqi made a deliberate and deeply personal decision to step into early childhood education, guided by a belief that childhood deserves more than early academic acceleration. This transition was not a departure from rigour, but a redefinition of it — one grounded in joy, purpose, and respect for how young children truly learn.

Siqi holds a Master of Early Childhood Education from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and has over seven years of experience in early learning environments. Her practitioner research examined how play-based literacy experiences support engagement and early reading development in children aged five to six. Grounded in socio-constructivist theory and informed by classroom practice, her work bridges a tension many families feel deeply: how to honour childhood while preparing children thoughtfully for the expectations of formal schooling.

Her pedagogy champions learning environments that are intellectually rich yet developmentally appropriate — bilingual, inquiry-led, grounded in nature, and woven with strong foundations in literacy and numeracy. Above all, Siqi believes in children as capable thinkers, collaborators, and meaning-makers, deserving of both challenge and care.

Recognised with the HoneyKids Asia Gold Award for Best Kindergarten Teacher (2024), Siqi continues to contribute thoughtfully to conversations around educational quality and teacher professionalism in Singapore.

At the heart of Laureum Collective is her unwavering belief: that when we protect childhood, we strengthen families — and when we honour children fully, we lay the foundations for a kinder, more thoughtful, and more resilient society. Laureum exists to advocate for the joyful, rigorous, and deeply human early education children deserve — beginning in Singapore, with aspirations to inspire change beyond.

Founder & Pedagogical Director
Practising Educator

Mandarin Pedagogical Director
Practising Educator

Ms Cao Xing Ting is an experienced early childhood educator and Mandarin pedagogy specialist with over eight years of experience in bilingual (English–Mandarin) early learning environments.

She holds a Master of Early Childhood Education from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and is deeply committed to advancing high-quality Chinese language pedagogy through reflective, research-informed practice. Xing Ting brings strong expertise in designing and implementing inquiry-based Mandarin curricula that are culturally meaningful, developmentally appropriate, and deeply engaging for young children.

Throughout her teaching career, her inquiry projects have been selected for publication in her school’s educator book and presented at the ECDA Conference (2025) — reflecting her ability to translate educational theory into thoughtful, effective classroom practice. She is particularly skilled at integrating language learning with children’s interests, play, and real-life experiences, nurturing not only strong Mandarin foundations but also future-ready skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and confident communication.

Beyond the classroom, Xing Ting brings rich experience in teacher mentoring and professional development. She designs and facilitates professional learning workshops focused on constructivist pedagogy, inquiry-based learning, and learning environment design, and works closely with educators to strengthen observation, curriculum documentation, and meaningful communication with families. Her mentoring approach centres on building pedagogical clarity, confidence, and alignment between daily practice, school values, and professional standards.

At Laureum, Xing Ting is driven by a belief that language learning should feel purposeful, joyful, and deeply connected to children’s lives — empowering both educators and children to grow with confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love for learning.

Wander far, wonder deep

兴婷老师不仅让孩子“玩中学”，也非常用心地把这些户外体验延伸回课堂，通过绘画、拼贴和组合等丰富的创作活动，帮助孩子们回顾、表达和巩固所学的知识。这种从体验到表达、从感受走向理解的教学方式，让学习变得生动而有深度。

此外，兴婷老师对孩子的观察非常细致、敏锐。她能够留意到孩子在行为和情绪上的变化，当孩子出现一些特别状况时，会第一时间与家长沟通，了解孩子在家中的情况，与家长一起分析孩子行为背后的深层原因，从而及时、合适地给予引导和帮助，协助孩子慢慢调整与成长。这份用心与专业，让家长感到非常安心。

N1安安的妈妈

★★★★★