Tier1 Support Services

Introduction

Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) has been subsidised by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for pilot project, namely “Tier 1 Support Services in Kindergartens/ Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres” since August 2020. The project is extending from April 2022 to August 2023. Our transdisciplinary team serves children who show signs of special needs in 14 participating kindergartens, together with their parents and teachers. We aim towards providing early intervention for pre-school children with signs of special needs, with a view to promote their holistic development. Also, our Service strives hard to help kindergartens create inclusive learning environments to facilitate children’s beneficial integration in school and community, and to lay a solid foundation for their very best of future development.

Objectives

• To promote children’s holistic development in the aspects of learning, social interaction, behaviour and emotion.
• To enhance preschool teachers’ knowledge and skills to identify, teach and nurture children with special needs.
• To equip parents and family members with the necessary knowledge and skills for nurturing their children’s development.

Target Service Users

• Children under 6 years old and studying in KGs / KG-cum-CCCs participating in the Pilot Project who are:
  • with signs of disabilities or special needs in spectrum of learning, social interaction, behavior or emotion; or
  • waitlisted for assessment of Child Assessment Centres (CAC); or
  • assessed by CAC to have borderline developmental problems or single disability but not eligible for subvented pre-school rehabilitation services
• Parents / carers and teachers / child care workers of the children listed above.

Service Contents

Our Project Team, comprised of Educational Psychologists and Special Child Care Workers, provides the following services under the Pilot Project:

• Consultation and training for teachers and child care workers to conduct initial screening for children with signs of special needs, and devise accomodation to teaching methods and curriculum to address diverse needs of children;
• Co-create school-based inclusive education strategies with principals and school administrators;
• Short-term and focused training for children with borderline developmental problems; and
• Wholistic support for parents in fostering effective parenting skills to address the unique needs of individual children.

Application Procedure

School referral

KGs/KG-cum-CCCs may make referral to our Project Team for initial consultation according to the child’s daily performance in school.

Self-application

Parents / carers may consult the teachers or other professions of participating KGs/KG-cum-CCCs if they suspect their child shows signs of developmental problems. Parents / carers may also approach our Project Team directly for enquiry.

Office Hours

Monday to Friday	9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday	9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Fees

The Pilot Project, funded by the Lotteries Fund, will be provided free of charge.