THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS GUIDE MEDIA KIT ASIA an exclusive guide to schools and education in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing & Shanghai ITS and the HK Schools’ Guide has been a key partner in educating our readers about the ins and outs of navigating the education systems in Hong Kong and Singapore. “Shea Stanley, Founder LittleStepsAsia.com THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS GUIDEASIA THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS GUIDE ASIA 2013-2014: AN OVERVIEW THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS GUIDE ASIA ‘The Unique School Guide is the MUST ITS is particularly pleased to announce that its newest edition, available in Au- have book to put you on the right direction gust 2013, has been expanded to include Shanghai and Beijing. The growing when you start your school search. ITS has economic importance and viability of these Mainland Chinese cities means more given me very helpful insight into the differ- real-world opportunities for expats and more importantly, their children. ent schools, applications and more impor- These include an increase in multicultural diversity, good schooling alternatives, tantly which school is right for my kid.’ Mandarin Language immersion and better preparation for the world of tomorrow. Brooke Babington Bowers, Hong Kong We’re sure you’ll find the updated information beneficial and we look forward to “January 2013 continuing to grow with you in Asia. ‘Over 90% of our time and energy has been spent on finding the right school, and it to- EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR Many international schools have selective admission CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS policies for children with special needs and some schools tally consumed us at first; but the Unique As a parent of a child with special needs, you know what provide supplemental services for students with mild special is important to investigate when finding a new school. Not all learning needs. Students who have special educational schools provide special needs services and some schools do needs are admitted when their individual needs can be Schools Guide made it much easier on us not have trained special education teachers on staff who can met through the amount and particular type of support provide in specialised instruction. Moving your child from that each individual school provides. Furthermore, several one school to another can be an arduous and stressful task. organisations have been set up by expats in Hong Kong for You have to be honest about your child’s needs and realistic children with varied special needs. with its detailed breakdown of each school.’ about the expectations you have for them and a school. Choosing a school is one of the most important events The Watchdog Early Learning Centre in every child’s education. As parents, you want to do your Watchdog was founded in 1983. It is an early education Scott, relocated from Australia, June 2011 very best to ensure your child goes to the school you prefer centre providing intensive and well-rounded early and that the move from preschool to primary to secondary intervention and therapy programmes for children with school goes as smoothly as possible. If you consider the Special Educational Needs from newborn to age six, and for local system for your child, the Education Bureau of Hong both Cantonese and non-Cantonese speaking children. Kong provides school-based and centre-based assessment ‘We support children who have a wide spectrum of services for children suspected of having physical and challenges including speech delay, Autistic Spectrum sensory disabilities, speech and language impairments, Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Attention Deficit learning or behavioural problems. Hyperactivity Disorder as well as a variety of other physical ‘I had no idea where to start with the school The Bureau runs two Special Education Services and mental needs,’ says Stella Wong, Executive Director of Centres in Kowloon Tong, (Kowloon) and Kwai Chung, (New Watchdog. Territories). Assessment services that include psychological, ‘We currently operate at maximum capacity of more social and educational assessment for children with than 70 children in our regular programme and another 60 search for my first-born ‘till I followed the learning and behavioural problems, speech and language children in our Saturday programme.”We opened our new assessment for children suspected of having speech and school in 2009 in Kowloon which caters for 55 children from language impairments, and audiological assessments for birth to six years,” explains Wong. ‘We decided to expand steps suggested by the Schools Guide.’ children suspected of having hearing problems. because of the lack of SEN services for English-speaking Other schools and early education institutions also children in Hong Kong and before we opened there was no place great importance on identifying learning problems service in Kowloon.’ Emphasising the importance of special so they can help a child as early as possible. However, needs education, Wong stresses, ‘It is extremely important Cathy Chan, Hong Kong August 2011 some international and local schools do not have adequate that children with SEN receive critical early intervention resources for students with learning difficulties and many at the “earliest” age possible so as to maximise their full have selective admission policies. potential.’ Watchdog employs highly qualified early interventionists SPECIAL ESF (English Schools Foundation) who are professionally trained in fields associated with ESF is the primary provider of primary and secondary special education, early education and psychology. The staff academic support for a wide range of Special Education members include an educational psychologist, special needs Needs (SEN). There are three secondary- age learning teachers, speech, occupational, physio and music therapists, ‘I realised I was acting on inaccurate ru- EDUCATIONAL support classes open at West Island School in Pokfulam and special care child workers and a social worker, all of whom there are also SEN classes at Quarry Bay Primary School, provide special needs children with the most advanced The Peak and Clearwater Bay Primary School. Bradbury programmes and assessment techniques available. In fact, mours when I first tried to apply for interna- Primary School caters for moderate to severe learning as Wong notes, ‘We run six hours of classroom instruction difficulties while providing specialist teacher support and a week, weekly therapy sessions including speech, NEEDS integration in mainstream classes. The ESF is determined occupational physiotherapy and music therapy, one-on- If your child has a learning disability, their special educational to push SEN classes in all of its schools and are truly one instruction with a Special Needs Teacher and also a tional schools. Thankfully, I was wiser with needs can be met either in a mainstream school with extra committed to increasing these classes. The well-established Saturday programme for children.’ support or in a special-needs school Jockey Club Sarah Roe School in Kowloon offers 60 places for children aged 5-19 with severe learning difficulties. the ITS Schools Guide.’ Lam Chung Hin, 78 I ITS UHKSG I Issue 3 2011 ITS UHKSG I Issue 3 2011 I 79 Hong Kong, December 2011 ‘The most thorough guide for parents!’ THE PUBLISHER OF THE ‘THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS GUIDE ASIA’ Benjamin Hau, London, UK, February 2011 ‘The Guide’ is published by ITS Education Asia who operate Hong Kong Education Department registered schools in Hong Kong and education consultancy services in ‘Comprehensive and well written, it makes Hong Kong and Singapore. The ITS Group offers top quality tuition and schooling and a great starting point for parents trying to is licensed by Edexcel (the UK’s largest qualification body) and Pearson. With accredi- understand schools in Hong Kong.’ tation from UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service Centre, UK) and The Standard, Hong Kong, November the Workplace English Campaign in Hong Kong, and a seat on the education Commit- 2009 tee of The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, readers can be completely confident in the quality and accuracy of The Guide‘s content. Information in The Guide has been written by qualified teachers and education consult- ants. As a result, its content is not only thorough, it is also trustworthy and kept up-to- date and topical with a new edition of The Guide being published annually. THE UNIQUE SCHOOLS ITS survey in 2011, 58% of The Guide’s readers have GUIDEASIA at least two children and 70% have lived in more than Readers of The Guide 45% 2 countries. read The come from a range of back- 70% Guide on the grounds and from all over the of readers enrol go! world. Many of them are 90,000 their children executives, directors and senior readers in many extra-curricular managers who all have high activities hopes for their children, both academically and socially. 62% place emphasis on their children’s holistic development 80% relocate with their families WHO ARE OUR READERS? With a readership of approximately 90,000 readers, The Unique Schools Guide Asia (The Guide) is the definitive guide for parents living in, or relocating to, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing or Shanghai who would like to know more about schooling choices for their children. With comprehensive, well-written and clear information about schooling and other educational choices, this book is a ‘must-read’ for those relocating to or presently residing in one of these cities in Asia. READER’S FAST FACTS A significant majority of readers in Hong Kong: 70% of readers enrol their children in many extra-curricular activities 62% place emphasis on their children’s holistic development 80% relocate with their families 45% read The Guide on the go! interfere with their studies. Nannies prides themselves on providing world-class It does appeal to people who like to move, dance and have Sheryl Feniger - Background international native English-speaking nannies and fun. It’s a simple practice, and yet as the experience deepens, It’s my intention to bring Five Rhythms™ into the hurly-burly Parents should not be surprised if their child shows quick maternity nurses to families within Hong Kong and there are more and more discoveries to be made.