Percentage of Preschool Children Referred to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for Learning or Behavioural Difficulties and Support Programmes Available

48 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) for each year over the last two years, what is the percentage of preschool children who are referred to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) due to learning or behavioural difficulties; and (b) what are the support programmes available to prepare these children before they enter Primary schools.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Over the last two years, about 2% of preschool-aged children were assessed by early intervention (EI) professionals and paediatricians at the Child Development Programme (CDP) at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and National University Hospital (NUH) each year. This does not include children who were assessed at private healthcare institutions.

Those who require EI are provided interim therapy by the child development departments in KKH and NUH, before being referred to an appropriate EI programme, if necessary.

Children who require low levels of EI support are referred to the Development Support – Learning Support (DS-LS) and Development Support Plus (DS-Plus) programmes offered in preschools. Under these programmes, professionals, such as Learning Support Educators, EI educators, therapists and psychologists, provide intervention for the children once or twice a week. This includes language and literacy support for children with learning needs and psychological support for children with behavioural needs. These professionals also guide preschool educators to adapt their teaching methods and activities to better engage and integrate these children in the classroom setting. Children requiring medium levels of EI support may be supported under the Inclusive Support Programme (InSP) pilot, which integrates early childhood education and EI in preschools.

Children who require medium-to-high levels of EI support are supported by the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) or the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) programme. These programmes are delivered by a team of professionals, including EI educators, therapists, psychologists and social workers in EI or PPIP centres. Children, typically, receive five to 12 hours of intervention conducted over two to three sessions every week.

Under these EI programmes, each child receives customised intervention guided by an Individualised Education Plan developed by EI and allied health professionals. These professionals also work closely with parents to support their child, which includes preparing them for transition beyond preschool, to Primary and Special Education (SPED) schools.