Singapore American School

ELC Support Services

The SAS early learning center provides speech/language services, classroom guidance sessions, counselor and/or psychological support to students, parents, and professional staff. It should be noted, however, that as a private overseas school, SAS does not offer full special education programming as prescribed by law for public schools in the United States. When a preschool student is seen by their parents or teachers as potentially being in need of support services a referral may be made directly to the elementary deputy principal, the speech-language specialist, or the grade level counselor.

Speech and Language Services

A speech-language specialist is part of the ELC team to help identify and provide services to preschool children who may have communication difficulties which could interfere with their learning or development of their social skills. Aspects of the child’s communication that would be considered include their ability to understand others (receptive language), express themselves with words and/or gestures (expressive language) and use language as a social tool (pragmatics). Also considered would be their articulation of speech sounds, rate of speech, vocal quality and fluency.

The parents and teachers may request an assessment by contacting the ELC speech-language specialist.

 

Counselors

There are six full-time school counselors in the elementary division. They serve as support personnel to students, parents, and professional staff. In the ELC, the counselors provide guidance lessons to prekindergarten classes which focus on the core values.

School Psychologist

A full-time psychologist is a part of the preschool through fifth grade support services team. As needed, the psychologist will provide academic/behavioral screenings, individualized psycho-educational assessments and consultation to staff and parents to assist with an ELC student’s growth and development.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Preschool and pre-kindergarten students, whose primary language is not English, are introduced to English by full immersion into the regular classroom. ESOL students generally acquire English quickly by “seeing and doing” alongside their peers.