puff,
wat i heard from my GFs/relatives who have sending their kids to primary 1 these few yrs, they need to do volunteer work,donate $$,donate equipment, etc at the school. joining RC/grassroot does help too cos there are phases like phase 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, etc for registration.
i share wif u my GF's experience who sent her boy 2 pri 1 tis yr... she sent her boy 2 a primary school in sengkang and bcos there's nothing for her, she ended up in phase 2C. according 2 her, if u r some grassroot/RC leader (must be of a decent position, cant just be a member), u can b in phase 2B or 2A. i cant recall the exact details but i know phase 1A & 1B are for pp whose siblings are in the same school or parents are from the alumni, etc.
my uncle donated $10K to red swastika and my cousin got in immediately.
as for doing volunteer work outside, i'm not sure if it helps. i know volunteer work in the school itself helps but u need 2 do it for at least 1-2yrs b4 yingxin goes 2 school.