A three year old programme to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds level up has reaped benefits, and is being expanded to include more children and families. Piloted by Lien Foundation and Care Corner at two pre schools in 2013, the Circle of Care programme has social workers and educational therapists working alongside pre school teachers.
It led to higher rates of school attendance and gains in learning for the at risk children at those two centres in Leng Kee and Admiralty. The scheme is now being expanded to 15 pre schools. Two primary schools - Lakeside and Gan Eng Seng - have also come under the programme to see how children can be helped with the transition to Primary 1. Social workers will collaborate with the school's counsellors, teachers and allied educators to follow the child until Primary 3. With the expansion, it is estimated that 30 per cent of the 1,700 pre schoolers enrolled at the 15 pre schools will need further help through the programme.
The programme uses an integrated approach that weaves a 'circle of care' around the child. Teachers, social workers, education therapists and community partners - who typically work apart - come together to identify the root causes of a child's difficulties and provide help on different fronts.
The model was shown to work for the 76 at risk children at the two pilot centres, where 95 per cent of them come from families with household incomes of below $3,000 a month. The Circle of Care team raised their average attendance from about 30 per cent to 70 per cent by working closely with their families. Educational therapists working with pre school teachers helped improved their literacy and numeracy skills.
Despite the encouraging results, Lien Foundation officials who went on a trip earlier this month to look at children's centres in Adelaide and Melbourne said they and their partners are looking at how the programme can be improved further. They said they were struck by the comprehensive and high quality programmes and services offered to disadvantaged children and their families in the two Australian cities.
Besides providing kindergarten and childcare services, centres offered antenatal care for mothers to be, health checks and play sessions for babies and toddlers where mothers learn about the importance of play, talk and reading.
Lien Foundation chief executive officer Lee Poh Wah said one of the takeaways for him was how the programme focused on not just helping the child, but the families too. 'Good parenting is key to helping these children. We must ensure that these kids have a strong family and good home environment.' He also noted the emphasis placed on helping children develop traits such as grit and resilience. Several of the children's centres had mindfulness programmes to help children develop concentration and self awareness. Said Mr Lee: "We shouldn't just focus on boosting their literacy and numeracy skills. Research shows that their socio-emotional skills such as impulse control and persistence and grit are as important for success."
Thoughts:
- It is of increasing importance that service providers and institutions see themselves not as a silo, but as an ecosystem that can work together to bring tailored help for the client and the family members. Who's first? Somebody has to start somewhere!
Thoughts anyone?
Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big
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