As well as delivering an Australian education to mainstream students, Integrated International School’s (IIS) team of teachers, specialists, counsellors and therapists offer customised learning plans for children with learning and behavioural needs.

Integrated International School (IIS) is one of Singapore’s leading schools for special needs education. Opened in 2009, this all-through school in Clementi offers a dual approach to learning: a mainstream education and a ‘mainstream with support’ programme for students with learning difficulties.

 There’s certainly no traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach to learning here, and an education balances the academic with behavioural and counselling support, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and social skills training.

It’s a small international school with less than 100 students (coming from more than 20 different nationalities) which offers students from Preschool to Year 10 a very nurturing, close-knit place to learn – and offers the specialist support and facilities needed by children with a wide range of individualised needs.

The school was opened in 2009 by Founder Dr Vanessa von Auer, a clinical psychologist, after several clients at her clinic said they were unable to find suitable schooling options in Singapore for their child. What started as a school with five students and three teachers has now grown into a successful boutique school that certainly helps to meet the need for inclusive education here.

Curriculum

The school’s tailored international programme is based on the Australian curriculum and its teaching style is a unique approach developed by Dr Vanessa von Auer. It’s a curriculum that offers the flexibility to support students who may prefer self-paced studying; those who prefer learning using pictures; those who enjoy music to learn; or students who benefit from a hands-on approach. Its educational approach also embraces learning styles for those who learn best through speech and writing, prefer to learn in groups with others, or through reasoning.

Teaching in the primary and secondary school covers maths, English, science, topic of inquiry, creative arts, personal development health and physical education (PDHPE) for all students. There are internal assessments in Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9, and students who complete Grade 6 and Grade 10 are awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Students in the Mainstream with Support programme have access to a higher level of support that you won’t find in a mainstream school. There’s a large team of highly specialised support staff including a team of experienced behavioural therapists, counsellors, psychologists, occupational therapists as well as speech and language pathologists. Mainstream

Your child will also be in a learning environment where their emotional, learning or behavioural needs can be closely monitored. Each student has their own Individualised Education Plans (IEP), class sizes are kept small with around 12-15 students, there is a maximum 1:6 teacher to student ratio.

Beyond the classroom, students can sign up for range of extra-curricular activities.

Campus and facilities

The school has a small but what it describes as “nurturing” campus, and makes full use of community facilities including playgrounds, parks, and sports facilities that are just a five-minute walk away.

The facilities within the school are thoughtfully designed for its students, and include several private suites for one-to-one counselling, speech and Naturalistic Applied Behaviour Analysis (NABA) therapy sessions.

There’s a multi-sensory ocean Snoezelen room, where students can interact with mesmerising bubble tubes, interactive infinity panels, a colourful fibre optic waterfall and carpet in a relaxed environment that is ideal for daily meditation, imaginative play, group therapy and yoga. There’s also an indoor occupational therapy gym with colourful swings, cosy hammocks, climbing ladders and a slide for learning through play.

Outside, students can explore and get creative in the teepee, mini-race track, sandbox and community herb – and the school allocates plenty of time to outdoor play in its timetable.

Admission and fees

The school has a rolling admissions process, and all students are encouraged to visit the school for a tour before applying. Places are granted based on a family interview.

Fees are the same for all year groups: $32,410.30 (Mainstream) and $38,894.50 (Mainstream with Support).

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