by on 13/07/2023 3310
Highlights |
|
Enso International Academy, TTDI, is a special needs primary school for ages 6 to 15 years – a safe haven exclusively dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of children with disabilities. Situated within a space of over 8,000 square feet, it exudes a welcoming atmosphere with purpose-built facilities including a multipurpose studio, library, pre-vocational room, mentor space, sensory room and classrooms fitted with smart boards.
The academy is named after the Japanese word – Enso – meaning a “circle of togetherness”, an imperfect community that sees the beauty in imperfections and gives strength to the individual to embark on a journey of personal development. Just as the name suggests, Enso provides an inclusive setting that caters to a range of special needs from dyslexia to autism spectrum disorder – a place where children can “Learn. Belong. Succeed."
The team at Enso comprises highly experienced experts in the special education field alongside professional therapists who are truly dedicated to delivering transformative outcomes for every child in the academy. Their unique combination of skills allows them to create a supportive yet challenging environment that’s conducive to children feeling mentally and physically safe to learn. Together, they strive to facilitate a child’s maximum functional potential by nurturing all aspects of the whole child – balancing their academic, social, emotional, physical and personal development. Moreover, all classroom teachers and therapists receive ongoing training and professional development through workshops, online learning, teacher coaching and break-out sessions to ensure they stay abreast of the latest methodologies and best practices in special education.
At Enso, they celebrate differences and value diversity. Instead of merely providing support within a traditional classroom setting, they tailor individualised pathways for each special needs student. As their classrooms are filled with diverse learners, each with their own unique strengths and challenges, teachers emphasise the need for small group learning to give students more focused attention to improve progressively. They work with the ultimate aim to empower every special needs student with the ability to think for themselves and with the right tools to become independent learners in the global society.
Enso strives to give students a breadth of education, offering an extensive selection of programmes specifically designed to address the individualised needs of students with special educational needs (SEN).
Enso's Primary School features a blended curriculum that integrates the National British Curriculum (Cambridge) with its proprietary Creative Curriculum. Key Stage 1 caters to students aged 5 to 7 years, offering a curriculum designed to foster engagement and transition from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to subject-specific learning. Key Stage 2, designed for special needs students aged 7 to 11 years, provides an exciting opportunity for diverse learners to acquire new skills, explore a wide range of subjects, and develop a global perspective.
The school utilises a variety of teaching styles and techniques where students learn in a variety of groupings, including whole-class instruction, ability groups, mixed ability groups and paired working. The core subjects of English (Literacy), Mathematics (Numeracy) and Science are tailored to each student's unique abilities. In addition, Enso's curriculum encompasses subjects such as Creative Minds, Social Studies, Music and Physical Education, providing students with a well-rounded education.
To maintain student engagement, teachers employ diverse teaching methods that encourage collaborative discussions, active learning across project-based activities, and the use of interactive technology.
Aside from academics, Enso’s curriculum extends beyond the classroom to include enriching experiences such as field trips, family days, concerts, sports days, as well as other experiential programmes. Great emphasis is also placed upon the development of social skills, behaviour regulation and essential life skills.
Students attending Enso are assured comprehensive support throughout their learning journey, benefiting from the inclusive framework offered by the Cambridge curriculum as well as the range of specialised measures implemented by the school. This includes accommodating the specific learning difficulties of each learner through a broad subject selection and assessment structure that promotes flexibility. The curriculum emphasises conceptual understanding and application rather than rote learning, while child-centric teaching approaches and a low student-teacher ratio of no more than 12 students foster individualised attention and development. Extra accommodations, such as arrangements for additional time, scribes and supervised rest breaks, are available during assessments to cater to the student’s special educational requirements. Moreover, a dedicated team of mentors, therapists, leads and service providers collaborates to ensure holistic care and support, nurturing each child's overall well-being and growth. This supportive environment fosters a sense of happiness and enthusiasm among students, who eagerly look forward to attending school each day.
Enso's Early Intervention Programme (EIP) offers a classroom-based approach that caters to the diverse learning needs of neurodiverse students, including those with diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Global Development Delay (GDD) and more.
The curriculum follows three key principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL): providing information in multiple formats, offering various ways for students to interact and express their understanding, and engaging students through motivating strategies. The aim is to bridge developmental gaps and overcome learning challenges for all students through the use of child-centred differentiated teaching methods and behavioural support.
The comprehensive programme covers essential areas of development, including social and communication skills, cognitive abilities, motor and writing skills, socioemotional and behavioural support, self-help skills, and classroom adaptive skills that promote success in both academic and non-academic activities. This is to prepare students for mainstream classes and integration into society by nurturing their potential and fostering a sense of belonging within their homes, schools, and communities.
The Special Transition Educational Programme (STEP) is designed to provide more intensive support to children, ensuring they are well-prepared for life beyond the classroom. As parents, you can feel confident knowing that your child will receive an Individualised Educational Plan (IEP) specifically tailored to their unique needs. This comprehensive programme covers vital areas such as social and communication skills, motor and writing skills, cognitive skills and academics, classroom and adaptive skills, behaviour and socioemotional skills, and self-help skills. By offering behavioural support, experiential learning and a child-centred differentiated learning approach, the STEP programme aims to address developmental gaps and learning challenges effectively.
Preparation for life beyond school is always an important goal at Enso, as children with special needs generally do grow into adults who still have special needs. To ensure a self-sustainable life for every student, Enso brings learning to the next level by introducing pre-vocational training through its P.A.T.H. Programme.
The programme includes modules on job readiness, functional academics literacy, social communication, computations, life skills, social skills and general knowledge. Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training, students will be equipped with essential skills like following steps, time management, personal hygiene, decision-making and problem-solving, empowering them to navigate their future workplaces and communities successfully.
For the best possible outcomes, Enso continues to build a supportive and collaborative culture within the school, working alongside families to unlock the obstacles and help special needs students optimise their potential to meet their academic and life skill goals effectively. As part of this commitment, Enso offers parent training to provide valuable support like equipping parents with effective coping strategies and ways to make adjustments that can greatly contribute to a more comfortable home environment for their special needs child.
Furthermore, Enso partners with international schools to provide comprehensive support for SEN learners, allowing children with special learning needs to continue their educational journey alongside their mainstream curriculum. For international schools seeking to support delivery of inclusive learning, contact Enso to explore the range of support options available.