SMALL CLASSES, IMMERSIVE LESSONS
When she imagined how a class might be run, Sunico-Chin remembered how mainstream preschool teachers might struggle to take on special needs children because “they just have too much on their plate”, although it’s “not their fault”.
So she was determined to keep the intimate class size – specifically one teacher for every two to four children
However, maintaining such stringent standards also means being upfront about the costs involved, she acknowledged. According to indicative pricing listed on their website, half-day programmes start from S$2,450 per month, while full-day programmes start from S$4,155.
When the centre was being set up, it was also “tricky” to nail down what therapies they would have, how often they would be offered and how academic skills would be woven into the daily lessons. They eventually landed on their current curriculum format, where students attend speech and language therapy twice a week, and occupational therapy once a week.
But teachers integrate therapy strategies throughout the daily curriculum and meet the therapists regularly to discuss the children’s progress, allowing them to react quickly to a notable behavioural change, such as if a child displays a sudden aversion to toilet-training.
Having therapy and education co-exist in the same space “makes a difference”, Sunico-Chin realised. “You’re hoping a kid will generalise when they go back home and some kids can, but my kids can’t. It really needs them to be super immersive.”
