A one-year-old girl attending a preschool in Ang Mo Kio required emergency surgery and 12 stitches on her tongue following a fall during playtime — but what has shocked the girl’s mother even more was the way the school allegedly downplayed the severity of the incident.
The child, named Lisa, was under the care of Little Footprints Preschool at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 on 3 July when the incident occurred. According to her mother, Renny Izzatie, 35, the school’s initial report failed to reflect the seriousness of the injury, leading to a delay in urgent medical treatment.
“Mama, Pain” – Mum Learns Extent of Injury Only After Picking Daughter Up
In an emotional Instagram post, Ms Izzatie said she was contacted by her daughter’s teacher at 12.43pm. She was told Lisa had fallen on her bottom and bit her tongue, but reassured that the bleeding had stopped and the toddler was sleeping. The teacher suggested she pick Lisa up if possible, just to monitor her condition.
However, upon arriving at the preschool at 2.17pm, Ms Izzatie was alarmed to see blood stains on the teacher’s shirt. In the car, Lisa, still bleeding slightly and drooling, repeatedly said, “Mama, pain.”
Upon inspecting her daughter’s mouth, Ms Izzatie realised the wound was far worse than communicated. She rushed Lisa to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where doctors quickly determined the need for general anaesthesia and emergency surgery. Lisa received 12 stitches for a deep cut in her tongue — an injury so severe that, during a post-op review, her surgeon said it had nearly pierced through.
ECDA Investigating, Mum Calls for Accountability & Transparency
After being denied access to CCTV footage by the preschool, citing “company policy,” Ms Izzatie escalated the matter to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), which has since received the full video with timestamps from the school.
An ECDA senior manager is now handling the case, and the agency is awaiting Lisa’s medical report before proceeding further. In response to media queries, ECDA confirmed they are investigating and will take enforcement action if there is evidence of regulatory breaches.
“The safety and well-being of children in preschools is of utmost importance,” said an ECDA spokesperson. “If our investigations reveal that any Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Regulations have been breached, appropriate actions will be taken against the preschool operator and staff responsible.”
Ms Izzatie has also contacted her Member of Parliament, Darryl David, who responded promptly to offer his support.
Mum: “It’s Not the Fall – It’s How They Handled It”
Ms Izzatie stressed that she is not blaming the preschool for the fall itself, acknowledging that accidents happen. What she finds unacceptable is the failure to accurately assess and respond to the injury.
“They are not medical professionals, so it’s not up to them to decide what is serious and what is not,” she said, adding that the school’s vague and minimising description of the injury may have endangered her daughter’s well-being.
Her Instagram post has sparked conversations about accountability in early childhood care, with many parents expressing concern over how injuries are managed and reported. As the ECDA investigation continues, the case highlights the importance of transparency, communication, and proper medical judgment in preschools.