Nationality
Singapore Citizens (SC) with special educational needs will be given absolute priority for admission to Pathlight School.
Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) and Foreigners may apply for admission to Pathlight School, subject to the Ministry of Education's terms and conditions. In accordance with these terms and conditions:
- PR applicants can only be admitted after all SC applications have been processed.
- Admission can only be granted to an International Student (IS) if SPED schools do not have any Singapore Citizens and/or Permanent Residents waiting to be enrolled
Parents are reminded to ensure their child’s timely placement in an appropriate school that can meet their needs.
Age
At the time of admission to Pathlight, the student must be between 7 and 18 years old. They must meet the following criteria:
Primary Diagnosis of Autism
- The child must have a formal diagnosis of autism.
- This diagnosis must be supported by a written report or statement from a qualified medical professional or psychologist.
Cognitive Ability
- Applicants need to be assessed to have adequate non-verbal cognitive abilities, verbal and literacy skills to access the language demands of the Singapore national curriculum.
- In the event that the student's verbal ability cannot be ascertained during the psychological assessment, evidence must be provided to support the student's ability to meet the language demands of the national curriculum. Examples of relevant support can include:
- Speech & Language Assessment of the student's receptive language and comprehension skills.
- Literacy & Numeracy Assessment indicating that the student has the necessary pre-academic/academic skills for the grade of entry.
- Important points to note for assessments/reports:
- The assessment must be conducted within two (2) years of the application.
- Applicant must be at least 4 years and 6 months old at the time of assessment.
- The cognitive assessment must be conducted using one of the following tests:
- Wechsler Scales
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
- British Ability Scales
- Singapore Ability Scales
Other Considerations
Applicants must be assessed to show readiness to access the Singapore national curriculum in a structured group learning environment (average class size of 10 - 14 students).
This includes:
- Adequate joint attention for group learning and following group instructions
- Adequate self-help skills so that the child's ability to access the pace of learning within a group setting is maximised.
At the time of admission, the student should not present with behavioural challenges or co-morbid conditions that will disrupt group learning or pose significant safety concerns for the individual and others.
Important Notes
- Applicants who meet the identified criteria are required to attend a School Screening Assessment to ascertain placement suitability.
- Ultimately, the decision on admission to the school rests with the school's Admission and Review Committee, comprising School Leaders and other appointed educators and medical professionals.
- We would like to encourage families to prepare their child to be school-ready with self-help skills such as toileting and feeding.
