What is Educational Therapy?
Educational Therapy is a customised intervention programme which helps children with learning difficulties. A qualified special needs educator uses multi-sensory methods such as manipulatives, games, and other activities, to teach children skills and strategies to help them manage their learning or attention issues and improve their academics and self-confidence.
Our specialised programme caters and facilitates the learning of our students facing different learning difficulties. Providing them with safe and nurturing environment will help them develop their skills and appropriately interact with peers and with adults.
When a child is ready for mainstream schooling, our educational therapists work collaboratively with teachers and other professionals to ensure a seamless transition. This holistic approach ensures children continue receiving the best support tailored to their needs.
Educational Therapy ultimately bridges gaps in learning, helping children thrive academically and socially.
We target the following:
- Increasing and improving attention span
- Different learning styles
- Sensory Integrated lessons and activities
We cater to children diagnosed with:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADD)
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
- Developmental Delay
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyspraxia
- Other Specific Language Impairments
With a holistic approach to student’s difficulties which takes full account of the history, profile and needs, your child will receive the attention he or she needs in a safe and positive environment which enables effective learning.
Who Needs Educational Therapy?
Every child learns uniquely, but some may require additional support to overcome specific challenges. Educational therapy is designed to assist children who face obstacles in their learning journey due to various cognitive, behavioural, or developmental issues.
Some reasons children may need educational therapy include learning difficulties/challenges, behavioural problems, emotional distress, developmental delays (speech and language), dyslexia (literacy), dyscalculia (math and numeracy), ADHD, ASD, self-regulation, social interaction issues and others.
Good educational therapists use evidence-based methods tailored to each child’s needs, creating an effective plan to build skills, improve academics, and boost confidence. This intervention ensures that children receive the tools and strategies needed to reach their full potential.
Our Approach at Bridging the Gap – Certified Educational Therapists in Singapore
The educational therapy sessions are held in a conducive and engaging environment in small groups with our qualified educational therapists.
Private educational therapy sessions are conducted on a weekly basis and are reinforced by the early interventionists daily. Learning activities vary depending on your child’s difficulties, age, interests, and needs.
We focus on identifying various factors that may affect academic progress and then addressing each child’s individual needs through tailored strategies that improve academics, attention, emotional regulation, motivation and overall confidence.
Key aspects include:
- Multi-Sensory Learning: Using manipulatives, games, and engaging activities to teach concepts in an accessible way.
- Skill Development: Teaching strategies to manage learning or attention challenges, aiding in both academic success and personal growth.
- Safe and Supportive Environment: Providing a nurturing space for children to develop skills and interact positively with peers and adults.
Our approach integrates support into your child’s daily routines and natural environments. Using a transdisciplinary team model, speech therapists, early interventionists, and educators work together to empower families.
What is the Educational Therapy Process? What Steps are Involved?
1. Registration / Parent Interview
Before the assessment you will be asked to fill out a form to provide information of your child’s profile, developmental history and your concerns about your child.
(*Note that not all students will require standardised assessment. It depends on the student’s history and needs.)
2. Child Assessment
Our educational therapist, together with our clinical director, will be assessing the child’s needs and the underlying learning difficulties with the use of standardised assessment tools with clinical observations to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your child.
3. Goal Setting
Based on the assessments, the Educational Therapist will plan tailor-made goals for your child’s therapy sessions. Our individualised approach ensures goals are tailored to meet each child’s unique needs. These targeted goals will be explained to the parents, together with the clinical director, and will be followed up by weekly homework and updates from the educational therapist.
4. Individualised Therapy Sessions
Educational therapy creates a supportive environment where children can make steady progress in these areas, ensuring their success in both academic settings and daily life.
Based on the child’s unique learning needs, our educational therapy sessions will incorporate engaging, personalised, evidence-based practices to help children accomplish the following key learning milestones.
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Language, Literacy and Communication:
- Recognise the letters of the alphabets in both upper and lower case.
- Know most of the basic 26 letter sounds.
- Hear and blend the letter sounds in words such as ‘b’-‘a’-‘l’-‘l’.
- Read a sentence fluently and understand what they have read earlier.
- Writing and spelling words.
- Building vocabulary and grammar.
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Math Fluency:
- Recognising numbers.
- Understanding quantities.
- Performing basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction.
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Cognitive and Academic:
- Follow sequence of instructions to complete a task at one time.
- Independent problem-solving skills.
- Organisation and memory skills.
- Fine motor skills and using simple tools and stationery.
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Socio-Emotional and Behavioural:
- Understanding and managing emotions in various settings.
- Self-Advocacy: Expressing needs and asking for help when necessary.
- Collaboration and working with peers on group tasks and respecting others’ opinions.
- Building confidence and perseverance to try new tasks and persist through challenges.
5. Regular Progress Monitoring and Feedback
Our therapists closely monitor the child’s progress to ensure goals are being met effectively:
- Modifying educational therapy approaches and goals as needed based on the child’s development.
- Regularly updating caregivers on progress and discussing ways to further support the child at home.
6. Parental and Caregiver Involvement in Daily Life
We actively involve parents and caregivers throughout the therapy process to reinforce and support the child’s learning:
- Home Practice Plans: Providing practical activities and exercises to reinforce skills learned in therapy at home.
- Workshops and Informal Training: Equipping caregivers with the tools to support their child’s progress and build confidence in handling communication challenges.
- School Collaboration: Partnering with teachers and educators to create consistent support across all environments.
How Can Educational Therapy Help Your Child? What are the Benefits?
We don’t just focus on teaching children the academic skills but also on how to effectively learn with regards with their learning styles and sensory needs.
At Bridging the Gap, our Educational Therapy helps children and parents:
- Help identify behaviour issues that may be caused by underlying learning and thinking differences of the child
- Teach strategies to improve focus and work habits not only in school but also at home
- Teach time management and organisation skills through a structured schedule
- Strengthen important cognitive abilities like attention, memory and problem solving
- Focus on Emotional Well-Being: Impact of emotional health on learning, educational therapy boosts the child’s self-esteem and reduces anxiety related to academic performance
- Provide a safe environment for your child to talk about school and any struggles they are facing
- Act as a link between home and school, we believe in a collaborative approach and follow-up system between teachers and parents
- Our nurturing approach grows a passion for learning and encourages children to pursue their interests both in and out of the classroom
- Equips children with foundational skills that support their personal and professional success later in life
What are the Signs to Look Out for in a Child That May Require Joining Our Educational Therapy Programme?
Your child would require this therapy if they have significant difficulty with the following:
- Shows difficulty in reading, spelling, writing, comprehension, and numeracy skills
- Has problems with memory and retaining what has been learned
- Finds it significantly more difficult to learn than most of same-aged peers
- Has slower processing of information
- Has a brief attention span and gets distracted easily
- Usually disorganized, unable to plan and follow through due to poor comprehension skills
- Has low/poor critical and problem thinking skills.
- Transitioning from an Early Intervention Programme to mainstream kindergarten or primary/elementary school
- Struggles to fulfil the school’s expectations of behaviour and performance
- Has trouble with social skills including difficulty understanding non-verbal communication
Our Educational Therapy Sessions
Educational Therapy vs Tuition Classes:
What’s the Difference? What Does My Child Need?
Parents may wonder whether their child needs educational therapy or tuition classes to support their learning journey. While both aim to help children succeed academically, they are fundamentally different in purpose, approach, and outcomes.
Consulting with professionals, such as therapists or educators, can help identify the best course of action to ensure your child receives the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
Know what your child needs and let Bridging the Gap help you.
Tuition Classes |
Educational Therapy |
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Success of Tuition = An increase in scores and marks in school tasks, such as exams or assignments |
Success of Educational Therapy = An increase in total learning, internalisation of skills and knowledge, good ability to follow guides and instructions, and learn from firsthand experiences. Improvements in academic skills, cognitive skills, emotional regulation and life skills. |
Tuition Classes |
Educational Therapy |
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Success of Tuition = An increase in scores |
Success of Educational Therapy = An increase in total learning, Improvements in academic skills, |
Locations of Our Educational Therapy Centres
Currently, we have 3 branches of early intervention centres in Singapore. Located in the Central areas (Farrer Park / Kitchener Rd), located in the West (Rochester / Buona Vista), and located in the East (Marine Parade / Katong) of Singapore.
Bridging the Gap
@ Marine Parade
80 Marine Parade Road,
#19-03 Parkway Parade,
Singapore 449269
Bridging the Gap
@ Buona Vista
The Rochester Mall
35 Rochester Drive, #03-26
Singapore 138639
Bridging the Gap
@ City Square Mall
City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road, #08-06,
Singapore 208539
Parent Testimonials
My son has been having difficulties especially in coping up with the mainstream setting. We felt that he lacks the foundational skills, and we are happy that Bridging the Gap has addressed these with their effective strategies. They also work together with us and with my son’s teachers. This collaboration has truly been helpful.
Z. W. X.’s Parents
In Bridging the Gap, my son gets a well-rounded school program with good support from the teachers who I find helpful and friendly. The curriculum is also quite similar to mainstream school, except at a pace that will be beneficial for my son. They use effective ways that tap on my child’s interest and capabilities which make learning easier. Thank you, Bridging the Gap!
Jayden’s Mummy
My family have been struggling on how to help my son to cope up with his school. Going to Bridging the Gap has been one of the best decisions we have made as we have been consistently seeing so many improvements on our son. Also, we love how they work closely with parents on giving updates and follow-through activities at home.
TY’s Parents
Over a year ago, I enrolled my child at Bridging the Gap (BtG) after hearing positive feedback from other parents-and it has been a truly rewarding experience. The teachers are warm, attentive, and consistently communicate progress through session updates and monthly milestone summaries.
My child looks forward to attending BtG more than regular school, thanks to the personalized support and encouragement provided in small group settings.
With guidance from Director Janice and her dedicated team, my child has made remarkable progress-from having limited speech to becoming confident in communication, English, and Mathematics.
I’m grateful for the care, expertise, and partnership we’ve received, and I wholeheartedly recommend BtG to any parent seeking meaningful intervention and growth for their child.
Michelle Tan
My child has been with Bridging the Gap (BtG) for six months and has made significant progress in writing, attention, and social communication. She enjoys her sessions, and the teachers are warm and engaging.
Founder Janice has been approachable and supportive whenever I’ve sought her advice. Grateful to BtG team for their dedication and care!
Magdalene Wong
My son attended Bridging the Gap for one and a half years, focusing on therapy and social skills. The teachers were incredibly patient and played a key role in his progress.
They not only prepared him well for public primary school but also equipped us as parents with practical strategies to support him at home. I’m truly grateful for their guidance and care.
A highly recommended centre!
Guannan
I’ve seen noticeable improvements in my son’s gross and fine motor skills in just one month at Bridging the Gap.
He went from being unable to write simple letters to beginning to develop his writing skills. He’s also picking up more numeracy concepts and has shown progress in understanding questions and communicating more effectively.
All of this is thanks to the friendly and capable team at BtG.
Sally
Educational Therapy Programme Administration Information
Who is Eligible for our Educational Therapy Sessions in Singapore?
This programme is ideal for children requiring specialised therapeutic approach to address academic challenges and overcome learning difficulties, and / or are struggling to adapt and learn independently in a mainstream school environment.
Parents concerned about their child’s transition from kindergarten to primary school or those unsure about how to support their child’s learning journey may also benefit from educational therapy.
By focusing on areas like emotional readiness, executive functioning, and foundational academic skills, educational therapy can ease the transition and ensure a smoother adjustment to school while fostering better learning habits for long-term success.
- Age Range: 3 to 9 years, though eligibility is considered on a case-by-case basis based on the child’s unique needs and developmental stage.
- Exhibits signs of delayed learning milestones, such as difficulties in reading, writing, or numeracy.
- Struggles with comprehension or retaining academic concepts.
- Has yet to be diagnosed by a registered public health doctor or private paediatrician.
- Has a genetic disorder, birth defect, or medical condition that may predispose the child to learning delays or developmental challenges.
- Is diagnosed with mild to severe developmental, intellectual, sensory, physical, or multiple disabilities.
- Children referred for intervention by a registered public health doctor, private pediatrician, or specialist (e.g., psychologist, occupational therapist).
Begin your journey with our Individualised Educational Therapy to empower your child to achieve their goals, develop essential learning skills, and confidently tackle school and beyond.
What are the admission criteria and details of the programme?
Admission into our Educational Therapy Programme is based on a combination of developmental readiness, learning needs, and the outcome of an initial assessment process. The following criteria are considered:
Initial Learning & Developmental Assessment
All prospective children undergo a structured intake process which includes:
- Classroom observation during a 4-week immersion trial
- Therapist-administered screening assessments targeting language and literacy skills, numeracy readiness, attention and cognitive functioning, fine motor and pre-writing abilities, social-emotional regulation
- Multi-disciplinary input where applicable (e.g., speech, occupational therapy)
Outcome: At the end of the trial, families All prospective children undergo a structured intake process which includes: - Classroom observation during a 4-week immersion trial
- Therapist-administered screening assessments targeting language and literacy skills, numeracy readiness, attention and cognitive functioning, fine motor and pre-writing abilities, social-emotional regulation
Educational Therapy Class Schedules
We offer a weekly/monthly 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or 5-day programme to suit your needs. Bridging the Gap has a morning session running 9am – 12pm, and an afternoon class running 2pm – 5pm.