A little help goes a long way: Where to find early intervention and learning support in Singapore

Watching little ones along their learning journey path is full of highs, lows, and plenty of tears of both joy and frustration for all parents. But while we know that all of our children are unique, brilliant little masterpieces, formal education and academia aren’t easy for everyone. If your child has special needs, a developmental delay or learning challenges, know this - you’re absolutely not alone.

Luckily, Singapore has some excellent early intervention centres and schools - both local and international - that offer support for kids of all ages. Here’s what you need to know about the options available.

Early intervention centres and inclusive preschools

For families who want to provide their children with supportive education from a young age, early intervention centres and inclusive preschools are your best options. Depending on the centre and preschool, children may start as young as one year old. On top of therapy, early intervention centres may also offer training in life skills and after-school academic support. As some of the early intervention centres are run by psychological clinics, they provide families with a one-stop diagnosis and intervention support services. Should you end up on a waiting list for an inclusive preschool, there are also early intervention centres that operate in a school or classroom-based setting. Check out our list of top early intervention centres and inclusive schools in Singapore right here

Local mainstream schools

Local schools that offer the mainstream national curriculum are able to support children with specific special needs from primary to secondary levels. This includes support for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, hearing loss, mild autism spectrum disorder, physical impairment, and visual impairment. Students will have access to Special Education Needs Officers, who provide learning and behaviour support (individual, group, or in-class); a Main Literacy Programme conducted by the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, assistive technology like text-to-speech software; services from social agencies and more. You may check the full list of support available on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) website.

Special education schools

Special education (SPED) schools are government-funded schools that follow the Singapore national curriculum, tailored according to the SPED Curriculum Framework. It’s worth noting that Singapore citizens are given absolute priority for admission to these schools. Nevertheless, international students may still apply for admission to SPED schools and will be served should there be no Singapore citizen children on the school’s waiting list. SPED schools currently cater to children with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability (mild to severe), multiple disabilities, and sensory impairment. A professional assessment and/or medicl report is required for admission. More information on the application process can be found on MOE’s website.

International schools

Most international schools in Singapore do offer some form of learning support for students who follow the mainstream academic pathway. There are also a few with dedicated special needs curricula and academic programmes that children can start as young as two. The latter schools usually have specialised classrooms and equipment for students with learning differences. Most schools have a dedicated Academic of Learning Supports Team, some even comprising Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Therapists on top of School Counsellors and Special Education Teachers. There are also schools that work closely with external professional services to provide children with the extra help they need. You can check out the detailed list of international schools with learning support, as well as the support services they offer on our website!