Family & Social Child Developement

If your child has been diagnosed with developmental needs, seeking early intervention and finding the best support system can reduce the stress involved considerably. Singapore has 20 MOE recognised SPED schools that you could consider, based on your child's specific requirements and diagnosis. Many conventional schools also offer support for mild spectrum autism, mild hearing impairment, and have Teachers trained in Special Needs (TSNs) and full handicap facilities.

Get a professional assessment of needs

Get your child's educational needs assessed by a professional or even two. This could be a psychiatrist or physician from the Ministry of Education or any established hospital. For example, if your child is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder, find out where on the spectrum your child falls to determine what educational intervention is required. Choosing schools becomes easier when you know exactly what your child requires.

Tap into online resources and support groups

There is a vast amount of resources online that you can tap into. Join parent support groups for advice and don't hesitate to ask for opinions or help. Organisations that deal with children with special needs are also very helpful like Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), ASPN and many more. You are not alone, and the advice, camaraderie and support that these community services provide are often invaluable.

Solving the Traditional school vs. Special needs school dilemma

If your child is already in a traditional school, you may be tempted to continue or ignore the situation thinking it will remedy itself. However, forcing a child to conform beyond their limits may cause more harm than good. Assess whether your child is most comfortable in a traditional school with extra support from a teacher trained in special needs or in a special educational school. Many schools provide support for children with mild mental, physical, visual or auditory, impairments. Check if the school has handicap access and special equipment or teachers.

Availability of Special programs and Trained Educators

One of the best ways to check suitability is if the school offers Special programs that fit your child's educational needs. Does your child need an Allied educator or Teachers trained in special needs? Does the child need therapists speech, occupational or physical? At what intervals does the child need the support? Monthly, weekly or more often? A low Child to Teacher ratio (5:1 to 1:1 according to needs) is also important to ensure that specific care is given to each and every child in the class. The teachers should collaborate with the parents to assess the child's requirements. Their involvement and enthusiasm for collaboration to bring the best out of the child is one of the main indicators of a good school.

Trust your gut

Some children may thrive in an environment that is specifically tailored to their needs even though they can access a traditional school. Each child is unique, as are the requirements. As a parent, you are in the best position to assess it. Visit the school multiple times. One of the red flags is when the teachers or caregivers do not respond to the child, but only talk through the parents. Watch out for the little signs that show if the school is a good fit.

Think about everyday logistics

Often in your enthusiasm to find the best school for your child, the logistics take a back seat. Is the school close to your home? If not, can your child take the travel every single day? Is the commute handicap friendly? Are there enough facilities, if your child needs a break? An extra five minutes walk to the bathroom may seem fine at the start, but when rushing to class on a regular basis, it can become an irritant.

In the end, selecting a special needs school boils down to 3 factors: a good environment for growth; a curriculum that fits your child's capabilities; and empathetic staff to help raise a happy child.

Source:

MoE, Singapore