Singapore has more than 400 centres providing student care services for school-going children, aged 7 – 14 years. Most of Singapore’s households are dual-income, leaving many parents in a bind; who will care for kids when they leave school while the parents are at work? For most, a student care centre is a solution.
Other than a safe place for kids to stay for a few hours daily, student care centres have different purposes.
Academic Supervision
According to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), student care services include homework supervision. This is expected of all student care centres, but the proprietors also have the flexibility to create a program for the day-to-day running of the facilities. Some student centres focus on homework supervision while others offer extra classes.
The academic program is usually aligned with the regular school’s curriculum. Student care centre teachers are also qualified to support students in different subjects.
Enrichment Classes
Some student care centres offer different classes, including enrichment classes to give students hands-on learning. The enrichment classes include Chinese learning, Art, cooking, and much more. These classes impart knowledge to the students and also help them nurture social, communication, and language skills.
Some of the student care in Singapore classes help students express themselves. Students also learn how to identify stress triggers and how to navigate stressful situations.
Instill Life Skills
Since the students spend hours at the student care centre, they can learn so much during this period. The students are exposed to games and scenarios that will sharpen their coping, communication and decision-making skills. Age-appropriate life skills, such as cooking, that help students become more independent are also taught.
Student care services in Singapore vary from one location to another, so parents get to decide if they want their kids in an academic-focused student care centre or one with enrichment classes that supplement what students learn in school.
Feeding the Students
While this may not be the core responsibility of student care centres, it is just as important as other roles. Parents should know if the fees include feeding at the student care centre. Depending on how long the students are in student care, they may have a meal and a snack.
Secure Environment for Students
Student care centres are a safe haven for parents to leave their children after classes. It is a secure environment where students are supervised and cared for until their parents pick them up. This is one of the primary reasons many parents pay extra for student care services. The knowledge that their children are safe is a priority for most parents.
Individualized Attention
Although most student care services are offered to the students as a group, students also receive individualized attention. Parents may request specific academic support for their children, similar to private tuition. Fortunately, this is already offered as homework supervision, so each child gets personalized attention from the teachers at the student care centres.
These are some of the services offered by student care centres. However, the type of services and quality of care vary from one centre to another. Parents choose the services they need before determining the best student care centre for their children.