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Special Educational Needs and Disability: Where to Start

Official routes for a primary school child with special educational needs or a disability: who to talk to, school support, assessment, exams and costs.

Prepared by The Editorial Team

Updated 6 October 2026

Details checked October 2026. Schemes and limits change, so confirm on the official page.

If you are worried about your child’s learning or development, most of the routes below start at your child’s school. This page maps the official routes we found for a primary school child. It does not assess children or give advice. Each line names its source and the date shown on that page.

MOE uses the term special educational needs (SEN). Other agencies use their own terms, and we use each agency’s term when we describe its scheme.

In short

I’m worried about my child’s learning or development: who do I talk to first?

  • The school. On support, MOE’s primary page says “you may contact your child’s school or SEN officer” (16 January 2026).
  • The form teacher. MOE’s guide for parents says you can consult MOE psychologists “through your child’s form teacher” (March 2026).
  • MOE educational psychologists, through the school. MOE told Parliament that school staff can refer a student to them, with parental consent (3 February 2026).
  • While an assessment goes on. According to MOE’s reply of 3 February 2026, assessments are done on average within two months. Complex cases may take longer. MOE said students continue to be supported while assessments are ongoing.

We don’t list signs of any condition. For those, see MOE’s page for parents. HealthHub also has a page on these conditions.

Do we need a diagnosis to get help at school?

Not always, according to MOE. It supports students by need, “even when they do not have a formal SEN diagnosis” (3 February 2026).

Some support names a condition or a diagnosis:

  • The school-based dyslexia programme is described as for students with dyslexia (16 January 2026).
  • Hearing and vision devices are for Singapore citizens diagnosed with hearing loss or visual impairment (16 January 2026).
  • Exam arrangements need a clear statement of diagnosis (SEAB, 11 May 2026).

Ask the school which support applies to your child.

What support is there in mainstream primary schools?

This is how MOE’s page describes each kind of support (16 January 2026).

Support Levels Who it is for, as MOE describes it
SEN Officers Not stated In-class support, and individual or small-group intervention and skills training
Learning Support Programme (LSP) Primary 1 and 2 Students with weak language and literacy skills
Learning Support for Mathematics (LSM) Primary 1 to 4 (MOE’s guide: Primary 1 to 2) Students needing more help with basic maths
School-based Dyslexia Remediation Primary 3 and 4 Students with dyslexia
TRANSIT Primary 1 Identified students with social and behavioural difficulties; in all primary schools by 2026
Circle of Friends Not stated Peer support for students with social and behavioural difficulties
Main Literacy Programme (Dyslexia Association of Singapore; MOE-subsidised) Not stated Students with dyslexia meeting the subsidy criteria
Hearing and vision devices Not stated Singapore citizens diagnosed with hearing loss or visual impairment

MOE’s web page gives Primary 1 to 4 for LSM. Its guide for parents (March 2026) says Primary 1 to 2. Check with the school.

Where can a child be assessed?

  • Through a polyclinic, to IMH’s Child Guidance Clinic. IMH says its Child Guidance Clinics “support children and youths under 18” (no page date shown).
  • For a subsidy at IMH. For a subsidy, IMH says you need “A referral from a polyclinic or a CHAS clinic” (no page date shown). A CHAS clinic counts only if you hold a CHAS card.
  • Through the school counsellor. IMH says a family can ask the school counsellor for an assessment by REACH, a community mental health team. If specialist care is needed, a child may see a doctor at IMH, NUH or KKH. This is at subsidised rates (no page date shown).
  • Hospitals, for children under 7. MOE names KKH and NUH for “children below the age of 7” (8 April 2026). A referral from a polyclinic or CHAS clinic makes a child eligible for a subsidy there.
  • Ages at KKH and NUH. NUH says its unit serves children “before the age of seven”. Some programmes reach into primary school (no page date shown). KKH’s child development page states no age range (no page date shown). Ask KKH or the polyclinic which applies.
  • A registered psychologist. MOE also names registered educational or clinical psychologists on the Singapore Register of Psychologists (8 April 2026).
  • The Dyslexia Association of Singapore, which describes itself as a social service organisation. From 1 July 2026, a dyslexia assessment costs from S$1,784.50 for Singapore citizens, with GST (3 July 2026). Appointments are “typically scheduled within 4 to 8 weeks once all required documents are submitted and reviewed” (14 August 2026).

KKH, NUH and IMH state no fees or waiting times on the pages we read. KKH says its therapy charges are means-tested on family income (no page date shown).

What about PSLE and school exam arrangements?

SEAB calls these access arrangements.

  • Through the school. SEAB says school candidates apply through their school. SEN officers, coordinators or form teachers can help (11 May 2026).
  • Evidence. SEAB asks for a clear statement of diagnosis by a registered professional, and a school observation report. Some arrangements also need a profile of needs dated within three years of the exam year (11 May 2026).
  • Deadline. SEAB’s page gives “PSLE: Mid-February” and says late applications are not accepted (11 May 2026).
  • A different date. SEAB told Parliament that applications close “no later than two months before the examination date” (4 March 2026). Check the deadline with the school.
  • Results. SEAB says the school tells you the outcome, usually by April of the exam year (11 May 2026).
  • School exams. For school-based assessments, SEAB says schools decide (9 July 2026).
  • Mother Tongue exemption. MOE lists, among its grounds: “Have special educational needs, with severe difficulties in coping with overall learning.” (7 January 2026). Parents apply at the school before the first quarter of the exam year. Applications are considered case by case, and the school tells you the result.

What if mainstream school may not be the right fit?

  • Who special education schools are for. MOE says they serve “children with moderate to severe special educational needs” (14 January 2026).
  • An assessment comes first. MOE says, “An assessment is necessary if you intend to apply to a special education school” (14 January 2026).
  • Start with the principal. For a child in a mainstream school, MOE says parents approach the current school’s principal (5 February 2026).
  • No direct applications. MOE says, “SPED schools will not accept direct applications from parents” (5 February 2026).
  • How MOE decides. MOE handles these applications centrally. An MOE educational psychologist, MOE specialists and the school review each one (5 February 2026).
  • If you decline. If parents decide against the school MOE recommends, the child stays in their current school (5 February 2026).

Is there help with costs specific to disability?

Each scheme sets its own conditions and decides who qualifies. General help, such as MOE’s Financial Assistance Scheme, is in Help With Costs.

  • Special Education Financial Assistance Scheme (SPED FAS), MOE. MOE says it is “For SC students studying in government-funded SPED schools” (12 March 2026). MOE’s scheme sheet sets an income limit of $4,000 gross household income a month, or $1,000 per person (January 2026). At primary level it lists a full subsidy of miscellaneous fees, free textbooks and school attire, and meal subsidies. It also lists a transport subsidy of $21 a month, up to $252 a year. You apply online or through the school.
  • Child Relief (Disability), IRAS. The relief is $7,500 per child (14 August 2026). IRAS lists conditions, including a child attending, or recommended by a doctor for, a special education school. It also lists children not in such a school who have “significant special educational needs resulting in severe functional impairments”.
  • Assistive Technology Fund, SG Enable. SG Enable says it “provides subsidies for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to purchase assistive technology devices” (no page date shown).
  • Enabling Transport Subsidy, SG Enable. It is for citizens and permanent residents with disabilities who use transport run by social service agencies to approved services. These include special education schools (no page date shown).
  • Persons with Disabilities Concession Card. SG Enable describes a concession card for public transport fares (no page date shown).
  • Special Needs Trust, SG Enable. SG Enable: “a legal arrangement for SNTC to hold monies for your dependant with special needs” (no page date shown).
  • Special Needs Savings Scheme, SG Enable. It lets parents “set aside CPF savings for the long-term care of children with special needs” (no page date shown).
  • Home Caregiving Grant, AIC. AIC: “Monthly cash payouts to help families caring for persons with moderate to severe disabilities” (no page date shown).
  • Caregivers Training Grant, AIC. AIC: “Subsidises approved courses for caregivers to learn important skills” (no page date shown).
  • Student Care Fee Assistance at special student care centres, MSF. MSF sets a separate income limit for children aged 7 to 18 at these centres (no page date shown).

We don’t advise on which scheme or trust suits a family.

Are there activities that include children with disabilities?

Some of our Activity Guides list them where we found them. Visual Arts lists ART:DIS classes. Sports and Games, page 2 lists a Special Olympics programme for younger children. We don’t list programmes on this page.

Questions to ask

Our suggestion: these questions are ours, not from any agency.

  • At school: Who is my child’s SEN Officer, and can we meet? What support is my child getting now?
  • At school: Would the school consider a referral to an MOE educational psychologist?
  • For the PSLE: Does my child need an access arrangements application, and what is the deadline?
  • At a clinic: Do you see children of my child’s age? How does a referral work?
  • At a clinic: What will it cost after any subsidy, and how long is the wait?
  • For a scheme: What conditions apply, and which documents do you need?

What we didn’t find

We checked on 6 October 2026. We found no page of REACH’s own; we read about it only in IMH’s and MOE’s pages. KKH, NUH and IMH state no waiting times or fees on the pages we read. KKH’s page states no age policy for children aged 7 and over. We could not read each special education school’s admission dates. We found no page saying whether dyslexia or ADHD alone meets SG Enable schemes’ conditions. We found no official list of signs aimed at children aged 9 to 12.

Not covered here

This page gives no clinical, legal or financial advice. It does not say whether a child has, or might have, any condition. It does not suggest which route, assessment, scheme or trust to choose. It names no private providers. Preschool, early intervention and secondary school are not covered.

The evidence behind this

For readers who want to check our work. We read every page below on 6 October 2026. Each entry gives the date shown on the page, or says none is shown.

Ministry of Education (MOE)

  • SEN support at mainstream primary schools (last updated 16 January 2026): the school and SEN Officer contact, and the support table.
  • Which school for my child? A guide for parents (PDF, March 2026): the form teacher route, and LSM for Primary 1 to 2. We read its text from the PDF file.
  • Parliamentary reply on SEN assessment (published 3 February 2026): support without a formal diagnosis, school referrals to MOE psychologists with consent, and the average assessment time (within two months; complex cases may take longer).
  • Understand your child’s special educational needs (last updated 14 January 2026): an assessment is needed for a special education school application.
  • Get a professional assessment (last updated 8 April 2026): KKH and NUH for children under 7, the subsidy route and registered psychologists.
  • Exemption from taking a Mother Tongue Language (last updated 7 January 2026): the SEN ground, how to apply and the case-by-case decision.
  • Transfer to a special education school (last updated 5 February 2026): the principal, no direct applications, MOE’s central review and the right to decline.
  • Support at special education schools (last updated 14 January 2026): who these schools serve.
  • Financial assistance (last updated 12 March 2026) and the SPED FAS scheme sheet (PDF, January 2026): who SPED FAS is for, the income limit and the primary-level benefits.

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB)

  • Access Arrangements (last updated 11 May 2026): applying through the school, evidence, the mid-February PSLE deadline and outcomes by April.
  • Answer on access arrangement timelines (4 March 2026): the two-month closing date, which differs from the page above.
  • Answer on access arrangements and evaluation (9 July 2026): schools decide for school-based assessments.

Health services

  • IMH, Child Guidance Clinic and Appointments and Referrals (no page dates shown): ages under 18, referrals for a subsidy, and the REACH route through the school counsellor.
  • KKH, Department of Child Development and its FAQ (no page dates shown): what it provides, no age range stated, and means-tested therapy charges.
  • NUH, Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrics (no page date shown): children before the age of seven.
  • HealthHub: linked for descriptions of conditions only. We reproduce none of them.

Schemes

  • IRAS, Child Relief (Disability) (last updated 14 August 2026): the amount and conditions.
  • SG Enable (no page dates shown): the Assistive Technology Fund, Enabling Transport Subsidy, concession card, Special Needs Trust and Special Needs Savings Scheme.
  • AIC (no page dates shown): the Home Caregiving Grant and Caregivers Training Grant. We omit their amounts because SG Enable’s guide gives different figures.
  • MSF, Student Care Fee Assistance (no page date shown): the separate limit for special student care centres. We omit the figure.

Non-profit

  • Dyslexia Association of Singapore, assessment fees (page dated 3 July 2026) and assessment page (page dated 14 August 2026): fees from 1 July 2026, and the stated scheduling time.

Sources