Lien Foundation explores pre-school for mainstream, special-needs children

SINGAPORE — The Lien Foundation is looking at setting up a pre-school and playground where mainstream children and those with special needs will be able to learn and play together.

Believed to be the first of its kind here, the idea was welcomed by experts, pre-school operators and parents of special needs children, even as they acknowledged the considerable potential challenges such a school could face: Hiring sufficient qualified manpower, developing a curriculum that would suit varied needs, and addressing parents’ concerns.

Details will only be released at the end of the year, but TODAY understands that the foundation will be working with a non-profit pre-school operator develop a teaching environment and a physical space that is catered to both special needs and mainstream pre-schoolers.

The pre-school is part of the Lien Foundation’s StartWell campaign for early childhood issues, which it unveiled today (Oct 2). Speaking at the press conference, Lien Foundation chief executive officer Lee Poh Wah said the appointed pre-school operator would look at existing programmes to “adapt” something suitable.

He added: “You can think of it as a haven, for children to learn, play and receive equal treatment regardless of their mental of physical abilities.”

The news came as a relief to parents of special needs children TODAY spoke to, who have had trouble placing their children in mainstream pre-schools, with some having had to send their children for costly therapy programmes.

Pre-school operators said that given their resources, some schools can only take in children with milder conditions, or require a caregiver or parent to shadow the special needs children at school.

At present, an Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children under the National Council of Social Service provides therapy and educational support services to special needs children up to age six. Last year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development announced that it would provide an annual budget of S$4 million to the Development Support Programme to provide early intervention for pre-school children with mild developmental delays.

Member of Parliament (Moulmein-Kallang GRC) Denise Phua, who has been a vocal advocate for those with special needs, said for the initiative to be “game-changing”, it should extend beyond those with mild disabilities. “I hope Lien Foundation will partner disability organisations to include those who are moderate and even more severe; and make sure that capability is acquired to implement the vision well,” said Ms Phua, who is also president of the Autism Resource Centre.

Senior principal of St James’ Church Kindergarten Jacqueline Chung called Lien Foundation’s initiative a “positive model” where there is integration of special needs and mainstream children, with supported by special needs staff.

Ms Margaret Chua, executive director of Bethel Community Services — which runs three pre-school centres here — said such an environment would allow special needs children to emulate the behaviour of their mainstream peers, such as clearing their plates after eating.

But Mrs Chung also noted that there may be parents of mainstream pre-schoolers who are concerned about whether the pace of the classes would be slowed down by having to accommodate various learning abilities.

Mr Keh Eng Song, chief executive officer of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, said special needs children may need early intervention programmes, while the mainstream students will need lessons to prepare them academically for the next stage of schooling.

Another potential obstacle is the manpower crunch, with Ms Chua saying it would be challenging to hire and train more teachers to care for the special needs children.

Mrs Rinny Ong, 45, whose four-year-old son has Down Syndrome, said Lien Foundation’s initiative was like “a dream come true”. It will also help the mainstream children to better understand the kids with special needs, she said.