SINGAPORE'S biggest childcare chain NTUC First Campus just got bigger.

The group is embarking on its biggest expansion and rebranding exercise since opening 32 years ago.

It will spend about $40 million to $50 million over the next three years to double the size of its stable of centres and staff strength, invest in professional development courses and scholarships for its teachers and revamp its image.

While most of the money will come from the coffers of the chain's umbrella body, the NTUC, First Campus chief executive Chan Tee Seng said the impetus for the plans came from the Government's push to make childcare services more accessible and affordable.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at last year's National Day Rally that the Government will increase the subsidies per child, increase the quality of care at the centres and increase the number of places. The plan is to have a total of about 1,000 childcare centres by 2013, up from the 750 now.

Mr Chan said most of the money will go towards building new centres and employing more teachers.

The chain now has 55 centres, but will open 10 new ones by the end of the year.

It operates two types of centres - most are situated at HDB void decks, with a few more upmarket ones scattered around community clubs, workplaces and within landed estates. All offer full-day programmes for children aged between 18 months and six years.

By the end of next year, it will build another 50 centres. These, plus the 10 to be opened later this year, will provide an additional 6,000 places for children.

It will also have to employ 700 more teachers by the end of next year, taking its teaching staff strength to 1,400.