600 more kids to benefit from inclusive learning in pre-schools

Children with medium developmental needs get targeted support under scheme

- Gabrielle Chan

Ms Nur Hidayu, 27, with her husband Al Afiq Khairani, 28, and their sons Adi (far left), five, and Afi, six. She said she has seen the progress the two boys have made through the Inclusive Support Programme.

(PHOTO: COURTESY OF NUR HIDAYU)

About 600 more children with developmental needs will soon get the opportunity to learn in inclusive environments, receiving additional support within their preschools.

Under the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA) Inclusive Support Programme (InSP), children with developmental needs requiring medium levels of early intervention receive targeted support, enabling them to learn alongside their peers in the same school.

Launched in 2021 with an initial 150 places, a study of InSP has shown “promising findings”, said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli on Sept 25. Research showed that children supported through InSP made significant progress in closing developmental gaps in language, cognitive skills and daily functional abilities.

From 2026, ECDA will add the 600 more places progressively, said Mr Masagos. They will be spread across 15 to 20 preschools run by anchor and selected partner operators.

Speaking via video link on Sept 25 to some 2,200 educators and partners at a two-day biennial early childhood conference, Mr Masagos said the three-year pilot showed that inclusive practices strengthen overall teaching quality and benefit all children.