All About Autism

[nugget]

ImMeeMee,


I am sure you girl will do well in pathlight
Glad you made your decision. Does she need to start enrolling now or also wait for P1 enrollment in June?

[mashy]

ImMeeMee:

Here goes.


Psy has recommended that we place our doter in PL. The rationale was that she will benefit from PL's learning environment, and based on her performance and behavior, it appears that she has high chances with PL. Of course, this would be subject to PL's own internal screening process.

PL offers P1 Foundation and P1 Standard. Meaning a child who enrols into PL at 7 yo will enter P1 Foundation, before proceeding to P1 Standard at 8 yo. P1 Foundation is a bridging program between K2 and P1 in terms of curriculum, but it provides the exposure to the primary school environment to prepare the child for P1 and beyond.

We have decided to go by the recommendations and apply for PL. Our key priority is to look at what will serve the best interests of our doter here and now. It is valid that our doter works better in a small group setting, it is true that she thrives in a more structured environment. So naturally she will have a better chance with the PL environment. She is beginning to show confidence in her cognitive capabilities, and therefore we would want to support her with the option where we have relatively higher chance to continue to build her self-confidence and self-esteem in her early years. In a way, P1 Foundation is a deferment program, which will give her more time and space to continue to grow, while in the meantime pacing her into the education system.

As for the future, we really cant tell what it holds, and so no point thinking too far ahead. We still hope that she could eventually blend into society at large, and where and when she is ready, we will make decisions again based on her needs there and then.

Congrats to u and all the best for the PL screening!

[mashy]

nugget:

Actually I feel its not too late to start to look now.


I started to look when my son just started K1 and some schools already don't accept pv. I visited 3 schools around my area before selecting one. And this school I wanted my son to go is > 1km away hence I need to PV in order to secure my chances. And through the PV, I happened to see how the school deal with other special needs kids.

Maybe you can start to go for their school open house. Like someone mentioned, its usually in June/July.

I agree that doing PV is a very good way to see how they handle special needs kids and every other kid too.

[specialboymum]

Hi ImMeeMee


Is your girl going P1 next year? Maybe it may be a good idea to start contacting Pathlight. Before they except your enrolment, they will need to do another round of assessment (in other word, the psy’s assessment report is only reference). Also be mentally prepared for the long queue.

We submitted our son’s enrolment to Pathlight through KKH CDU in June, we only get the appointment for assessment towards december (though there were also some hiccups in between like KKH forgot to submit the original diagnosis report of my son’s condition). Pathlight also told us to expect at least 9 months-1.5 years of wait if my son pass their assessment, as they were already 50% over capacity. We panicked as we were worried what is he going to do during the 1.5 years wait? So we sent him to mainstream. It was difficult at start but now we think it isn’t a bad idea to be in mainstream so as to learn integrating with his normal peers

Anyway, I don’t know what is the situation in Pathlight now- I heard that they open up more vacancy… but I still think it is good to be prepared earlier and also good to have a plan B

[nugget]

Specialmumboy,


So you boy has done the screening already? Have pathlight offer you a place?

PL is so hard to get in cos of the small classroom size. Not too long ago papers said govt will provide counseling for parents to "open their minds" to let their kids go special schools if need to. But problem is there is not enough spaces in special needs school in the first place.

[ImMeeMee]

specialboymum:

Hi ImMeeMee


Is your girl going P1 next year? Maybe it may be a good idea to start contacting Pathlight. Before they except your enrolment, they will need to do another round of assessment (in other word, the psy's assessment report is only reference). Also be mentally prepared for the long queue.

We submitted our son's enrolment to Pathlight through KKH CDU in June, we only get the appointment for assessment towards december (though there were also some hiccups in between like KKH forgot to submit the original diagnosis report of my son's condition). Pathlight also told us to expect at least 9 months-1.5 years of wait if my son pass their assessment, as they were already 50% over capacity. We panicked as we were worried what is he going to do during the 1.5 years wait? So we sent him to mainstream. It was difficult at start but now we think it isn't a bad idea to be in mainstream so as to learn integrating with his normal peers

Anyway, I don't know what is the situation in Pathlight now- I heard that they open up more vacancy... but I still think it is good to be prepared earlier and also good to have a plan B

specialboymum

Thanks for the advice.

We were advised to start submitting application to PL within these two months. PL application ends by June. Then they start their screening process by second half of the year for next year enrolment.

Yes, have heard horror stories of how applications went awry, so I am keeping a close tab on this. Plan B is likely to ask for deferment at current EIPIC while we wait for PL.

Did PL eventually get back to you after its assessment, and how long away was that?

[mashy]

specialboymum:

Hi ImMeeMee


Is your girl going P1 next year? Maybe it may be a good idea to start contacting Pathlight. Before they except your enrolment, they will need to do another round of assessment (in other word, the psy's assessment report is only reference). Also be mentally prepared for the long queue.

We submitted our son's enrolment to Pathlight through KKH CDU in June, we only get the appointment for assessment towards december (though there were also some hiccups in between like KKH forgot to submit the original diagnosis report of my son's condition). Pathlight also told us to expect at least 9 months-1.5 years of wait if my son pass their assessment, as they were already 50% over capacity. We panicked as we were worried what is he going to do during the 1.5 years wait? So we sent him to mainstream. It was difficult at start but now we think it isn't a bad idea to be in mainstream so as to learn integrating with his normal peers

Anyway, I don't know what is the situation in Pathlight now- I heard that they open up more vacancy... but I still think it is good to be prepared earlier and also good to have a plan B

So if pathlight offers u the place now, will u still take it up? Or your son has coped well in mainstream much better than expected?

[helplessmum3]

Imeemee , congrats … PL is too consider mainstream according to rainbow …

May I know what PV stand for?

[nugget]

PV means parent volunteer. Usually people need to clock 40 hours of services to school in order to get into phase 2B of P1 registration.


Yup, pathlight school is very well suit for our kids with HF ASD. But the distance and cost is a factor to me. That’s also part of the reason why I want to try mainstream first.

[phtthp]

helplessmum3:

May I know what PV stand for?

PV = Parent Volunteer, ie. contributing your time, effort and skill(s) desired in a primary school.

clocking minimal 40 hours, to apply for your child's ideal school of choice under Phase 2B.
In some schools - some clock 60 hours, others clock 80 hours, depend on individual school(s).

However under PV, there is no guarantee that your child gets in.
When demand exceed available vacancies in that school, balloting takes place - based on the child's citizenship + distance from the school.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=269