From July 2019, EI centres will progressively offer a continuum of early intervention (EI) services that are better tailored to the varied developmental needs of our children, and the changes in a child’s developmental needs over time. The continuum of EI services include the following:

a)     EIPIC@Centre: This is a centre-based programme that provides both therapy and educational intervention services in a small group setting. The child’s progress will be assessed regularly and the intervention goals and strategies customised to the child’s needs.

b)     EIPIC Under-2s (new): This programme is targeted at children under two years old. It emphasises the training of parents and caregivers so that they can effectively carry out intervention strategies in the child’s daily routines within their home setting.  Such intervention strategies will help the child learn through his or her daily activities, and lead to early and more effective intervention. The EIPIC Under-2s programme will require the parent/caregiver to accompany the child. At the age of two, the child will transit into the EIPIC@Centre programme.  

c)     DS-Plus (new): This is a preschool-based programme that is targeted at children who have made sufficient progress under the EIPIC@Centre programme. Early intervention professionals from the EI centre will work with the child in his or her preschool up to twice a week, co-teaching the child alongside the preschool teacher. This mode of intervention helps the child to adapt to the mainstream preschool setting, so that they can continue learning and be equipped with skills within a larger class setting.

The EIPIC Under-2s and DS-Plus programmes will be implemented in phases, with 13 of the 21 EI centres providing these programmes from July 2019. The remaining 8 EI centres will offer these programmes progressively by early 2021. For more information on the implementation of these two programmes at the EI centres, please refer to the Annex​.

SG Enable provides referrals to government-funded EI centres in Singapore, based on parent’s preferred choice of EI centre. The EI centre will assess your child periodically to determine the suitable programme for them as well as the appropriate intervention goals and strategies.

Applicants should be:

• 6 years old and below (children below age 2 will be placed into EIPIC Under-2s if offered at their EI centre)
• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Diagnosed with or at risk of developmental, intellectual, sensory, or physical disabilities or a combination of disabilities. 
• Recommended for EIPIC by a doctor from the Department of Child Development (DCD) at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) or Child Development Unit (CDU) at National University Hospital (NUH), or a private paediatrician

For DS-Plus

DS-Plus is a programme for children attending EIPIC, and who have made sufficient progress in EIPIC@Centre to be supported in a preschool setting. There is no need to apply for DS-Plus, as the child’s EI professionals will automatically use the Early Intervention Benchmarking Framework¹ to identify children who are suitable for transition to DS-Plus, and will speak to the parents about this.  

¹ This is the national framework used to assess children in early intervention services, at entry and exit, and periodically in between. The EIBF is set out by the Community Psychology Hub.

Enrolment into the suitable programme at the preferred centre is subject to the availability of vacancies at the centre and approval of the respective centre management.

Upon receiving the completed EIPIC referral forms from the Hospital, SG Enable will contact you within 10 working days.