Programmes
Pre-School Programme (4 to 6 years old)
The Pre-School programme initiates the young pupils to the classroom routine. The pupils learn to follow instructions and participate during group activities.
Activities are centred round the basic needs of the child including basic self-help, self-awareness, fine and gross motor skills, basic vocabulary and pre-writing skills.
Teachers engage in creative teaching styles to stimulate the interest of the pupils. Colourful teaching materials and concrete objects make the learning fun and meaningful. Play forms an essential part of the pupils' daily activity. Through the play activities, pupils learn to express themselves as well as develop their cognitive and motor skills. Some of the play activities include water-play, sand-play and playroom activities.
With a small teacher to pupil ratio, the teachers are able to attend to the individual needs of each pupil.
Junior Programme (7 to 12 years old)
The Junior programme further expands the skills taught in the pre-school programme. Language development includes vocabulary building, speech, reading and writing. Basic money and time skills are introduced to the pupils. At this level pupils are taught to recognise the various coins and notes and tell time by the hour or half-hour. These skills equip pupils with basic foundation in independence and employment skills.
In this programme, there is lesser emphasis on self-help skills compared to the pre-schoolers. Very often, the learning of self-help skills is incorporated into other activities. For example, a pupil practices on his/her dressing skill when he/she changes from school uniform to P.E. attire and vice-versa.
Housecraft skills are also taught and it includes cutting soft food,
peeling, washing, cleaning, boiling, spreading etc. Pupils are taught
to make a simple meal such as sandwich for themselves.
At this level, pupils are also encouraged to share and learn together.
The teacher facilitates this in classroom activities by pairing up pupils
of different ability. Through cooperative learning and peer tutoring the
pupils learn from one another.
Art & craft, music, P.E. and swimming activities are included to provide the pupils with leisure skills and enjoyment.
Senior Programme (13 to 18 years old)
During this stage of the pupils' education, the programme focuses on imparting employment and vocational skills. The pupils are challenged to complete tasks independently and to make decisions as well as to solve problems.
In preparation for employment, appropriate social behaviours and work attitudes are taught to the pupils. Weekly travelling lessons allow the teachers to supervise their pupils' social behaviour. During the outing, pupils have the opportunities to learn how to make purchases at supermarkets or hawker centers and travel by public transport. The teaching of critical skills for employment, such as social, money and time skills, are intensified to ensure that pupils are well prepared before they graduate at the age of eighteen years. Other independent living skills include housecraft skills such as food preparation, housekeeping, laundry and cleaning skills. Leisure skills, such as games, music and craftwork, are also incorporated into the programme to ensure that the pupils enjoy a balance lifestyle.
In summary, the Senior programme prepares the pupils to lead an independent life as well as to equip them with skills for employment.
Special Programme (4 to 18 years)
The Special programme caters to the educational needs of the low ability pupils. Each pupil requires a tremendous amount of individual attention; as such the pupil to teacher ratio is small. The programme emphasizes the learning of basic independent living skills such as toileting, dressing, feeding and grooming skills. The learning of independent living skill is reinforced and complemented by other subjects such as physical education and housecraft lessons. Art & craft, swimming and music & movement activities provide further cognitive and physical stimulation for the pupils.
The pupils in this programme are encouraged to express themselves using various forms of expressive language such as signs and pictures. Verbal and visual prompts are used to enhance the learning of the pupils.
Despite the pupil's low level of functioning, the individual attention given to each pupil bears steady results.