Any rec's for an ed psych in Singapore

[pupsiecola]

Stupid school have given us an ultimatum for DS2 as they are sure he has a learning disability so it's get him assessed then they'll see if they will let him stay, or get out. In a nutshell.

DH and I know he's always been average and a bit slow to pick things up. But we don't feel he has a learning disability. This is based on many things. We're open to exploring this and already have spent a fair bit of time and dosh on it (outside of school / school fees). They literally just told us we're in denial. We're just trying to look at it from all sides and compute it with the child we know. He's 8 next week. We've never had this brought to our attention before. And so much of it doesn't add up. And more worryingly his lovely little personality is changing and he is so anxious and stressed which is not him at all. He's always been the carefree one in the family.

I am talking to a good friend in the UK who is a consultant psychiatrist in London. He thinks it all sounds crazy. (High pressured international school here catering to Asian very strong work ethic (huge generalisation but trying to paint the picture).
If we do get him assessed we want to try to find a UK person to do it as we don?t just want someone backing up the school.

A lot hinges on this. Most of the international schools here will have the same attitude (they just want kids who are easy to teach and as they?ve all got waiting lists they can be choosy). The school have recommended two schools for kids with learning disabilities but we feel that could be damaging to DS who is just a bit slow.

Not sure I want to keep DS in a school I have lost all respect for. But there are no alternatives so we are reasonably sure we will return to the UK this Summer.

Can anyone recommend a British ed psych here please? Thanks.

[papalazaru]

When we lived in HK we heard good things about Dr Roby Marcou based in Singapore. A cous of years later when we were living in Jakarta we visited her to do an assessment on our DS who was seven at the time. I thought she was really good and would highly recommend her.
www.drrobymarcou.com.sg/index.html
I'm sorry you're hav

[papalazaru]

....ing such a hard time with the school. We found the same problem in HK - a very pressured environment where kids outside the norm were not well tolerated.
Anyway, look into Dr Marcou - you might find that with her knowledge of the local schools she can give you a little more insight than an Ed Psych based in the UK.
Good luck.

[Astelia]

I have heard good things about Alan Hill at Brain Train in Tanglin Place. Might be worth a look.

Have you been to talk to Dover Court? They have a reputation as having more support available for students and a very caring staff.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

The Ed psych at dover court is really lovely. She's british and ex primary school teacher, name is Angela vollans, been in singapore 2 years. We had to do days of assessment to get the dds into US schools and she was super patient and kind. Not sure if she works outside the school but worth contacting her to find out. The school has a big percentage of sn kids so she sees and assesses them on a daily basis.

The school is probably just trying to hedge its bets, try not to worry [busmile]

[pupsiecola]

Thanks all. Dover Court has a wait list until at least January.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

I highly recommend Kaleidoscope (www.kaleidoscope.com.sg/). The social and behavioural therapist there, Katy Harris, is excellent (and British), but she may not be the appropriate person for your needs. They will advise you which of their staff is the right one for your DS. They do offer assessments, and their centre is very child-friendly, play-based.

[Imarriedaniceman]

Hi pupsie

Would you consider home schooling? I haven't lived in Singapore but we considered a move there and as the international schools were too expensive for us I looked into homeschooling. There seems to be a network of expats who are doing just that. I believe you can get tutors to come to your home etc and they organise meet up's so the kids have a chance to socialise etc. At 8 years old your son is too young to be getting stressed by school. The one to one attention from a tutor might in fact be much better and I don't think it works out anything as expensive as the school fee's.

Just something to consider maybe. I often read your posts and can empahtise as we too have located to a completely different school system so I know how challenging it can be.

Good luck with it all

[pupsiecola]

Thanks all. This just about sums things up

www.learndifferent.com.sg/uploaded//Learning_Curve_Expat_Living_Feb_2013.pdf

(posted on another internet forum).

We don't feel there''s a workable solution and as we were only gonna be here until Summer 2014 we've decided to head back to the UK. Managed to get both DSs into a great state school in Hampshire, and that fees into a top comp which we will need to apply for in October for DC1 anyway.

Feel VERY relieved. It's been a tough decision in many ways but quite simple when we think about the stress we've all had since we moved here.

Bring on the cold weather, wearing my hair down, the NHS, cycling, Pizza Express etc.

[Clueless2727]

I've read your posts and sorry it didn't work out, but you are doing the right thing, need to do what's best for you dc. Hope they settle into their new school.