Early Learning Programme(ELP)
The ELP is more than enrichment.
It is a weekly intervention-based, volunteer-championed Literacy and Numeracy programme for underprivileged children aged 6-7.
It has been designed to benefit children with learning difficulties like dyslexia and developmental delay, as well as neurotypical children.
DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT OF ELP
DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT OF ELP
The ELP started as a pilot in 2014 at Care Corner Family Service Centre (Queenstown) for underprivileged 6-year olds who did not speak English at home. Despite attending preschool, these children had not mastered basic literacy and numeracy. Several had learning difficulties. We trained volunteers to provide individualized, intervention-based learning to these children so they could be more ready for Primary School.
Since then, the ELP has been refined. It now incorporates methods used in educational therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. We have been running the ELP through multiple partner charities and have seen over 95% of children improve in Literacy and Numeracy, with more than 2-fold improvement in some. Children who did not know the names and sounds of the alphabet at the start of K2 were able to read complete sentences by the end of the ELP run - a remarkable improvement over 8 months of once-weekly lessons.
THE ELP DIFFERENCE - HOW WE TEACH AND ASSESS
The ELP’s in-house curriculum and teaching materials were developed with support from Literacy Therapist Sharon Yeoh and Educational Psychologist Adeline Chin. It comprises a balanced, multi-sensory literacy programme, as well as a manipulative-heavy Numeracy component.
Children are tested at baseline, mid-term and year-end to determine their needs and progress. Volunteers are matched to children on a maximum 1 volunteer: 2 children ratio, and plan lessons based on the children’s knowledge gaps and preferred learning styles. ELP children benefit from intensive individualised attention, unlike in enrichment classes.
Children that display signs of learning or other difficulties are referred to our volunteer Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist or/and consulting Literacy Therapist and Educational Psychologist for screening and assessments.
A TYPICAL SESSION (2 hours)
Children are bussed to a host charity every Saturday morning and provided with breakfast. We start with a group teaching session, followed by one-hour solo lessons involving multi-sensory exercises, tools and readers selected to match the child’s level and progress. The children then have 45 minutes of Group Play aimed at developing their social interaction and gross motor skills.
We partner with National Library Board to incorporate their KidsRead programme into the Group Play period. Gym, music and other activities are included through our corporate partners. The children also go for outings and have in-house mini funfairs.
THE ELP CURRICULUM
Various manipulatives are used alongside levelled intervention workbooks developed in-house to enable visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning.
We also train the child’s fine motor skills through craftwork, as well as cutting, pasting and colouring exercises.
I WISH TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE ELP
Recruitment for volunteers are currently closed.
I WISH TO ADOPT THE ELP CURRICULUM AT MY CENTRE
We are open to working with volunteer groups, charities and preschools to support your learning intervention needs. This could involve the use of our curriculum and workbooks, training volunteers, or testing children for their knowledge gaps. Please contact us via this form.
