The Circle of Care programme, piloted five years ago at two pre-schools, has shown how early and holistic intervention can change the outcomes for children from disadvantaged homes. This scheme, now extended to 10 pre-schools, brings together teachers, social workers and education therapists to identify the root causes of a child’s difficulties and provide help.
Now, doctors and nurses from the National University Hospital (NUH) have joined the team of experts providing care for the children by conducting medical screening which includes checking vision and hearing. They look out for developmental delays, be it in language or motor skills. Also, they check on the social and emotional health of the children, and refer them to specialists at NUH if there were any problems.
To date, 121 children from five pre-schools have been through the health checks and 60 of them have been referred to specialists for various health and developmental issues, including asthma, hearing difficulties, hyperactivity and lag in literacy development. Social workers will help families apply for subsidies to defray the costs.
Philanthropic group Lien Foundation and welfare organisation Care Corner, which piloted the programme, said the health services component is important for at-risk children. Besides early identification, this program also promotes an exchange of information between the doctors and parents to develop healthy habits for the child.
Paediatrician Chong Shang Chee, head of NUH child development unit, said good physical health and social-emotional development are the basis for which cognitive skills develop, and research is robust around the impacts of early intervention in children with development or health issues to reduce later onset health problems or learning delays.
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Source: The Straits Times, 2 June 2017