Who are these classes for?
These classes are for special needs and/or developmentally delayed children between the ages of 3 – 6. Watchdog currently has seven English language classes and five Chinese language classes with an average of five children in each class. Each class is staffed by one special needs teacher and at least one certified childcare worker.
What is covered in these classes?
These classes provide children with the necessary academic, social and play skills to enable them to integrate more easily into a mainstream kindergarten class. Upon admission to Watchdog, each child is assessed to determined the level at which the child functions in gross-motor, fine-motor, cognitive, receptive and expressive language, personal and social skills. Activities and programming are designed to meet each child's individual needs.
Activities in these classes include art, home corner, creative play, fine motor skills, problem solving, reading, outdoor play and group activities. Classes are three hours long and meet twice weekly. Each child receives at least 20 minutes of one on one time with the teacher in each three hour session. The group sessions also include 30 minutes each week of music therapy and 30 minutes of speech therapy. Depending on individual need, students also receive weekly/fortnightly occupational and physio-therapy.
What are the fees for the Pre-School Classes?
Fees for the pre school classes are HK $550 per month and include:
- 2 three hour group sessions weekly which include 20 minutes of one on one instruction per session.
- 30 minutes weekly music therapy and speech therapy conducted in the classroom setting.
- 45 minutes weekly/fortnightly of occupational and physio-therapy, based on individual need.
- Biannual assessment and parent review session.
- Additional therapy and counseling sessions are available by appointment.
What is my involvement as a parent?
Watchdog believes that parents play an important role in the training of their children. While parents are not actively involved in the pre-school classes, they are encouraged to watch the class sessions and individual therapy sessions from the observation rooms. Parents are provided with goals in the biannual assessment reports and they are expected to follow through at home with the activities taught at school. As an integral part of Watchdog’s programming, all families receive home visits from the professional staff involved with their child’s instruction. Class outings and family events are also organized on a regular basis.