Early intervention programme in Singapore: EIPIC and other support, who qualifies, how referral works and fees

Singapore's early intervention (EI) programmes, run under ECDA, support children under 7 with developmental needs. The main one is the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), for children from birth to six whom a paediatrician assesses as at risk of a developmental, intellectual, sensory or physical disability; it's open to citizens and PRs. Children with lighter needs get support inside their preschool through DS-LS, DS-Plus or the InSP pilot. To get a place, start with a polyclinic or CHAS GP, who refers your child to KKH's Department of Child Development or NUH's Child Development Unit, or see a private paediatrician. After subsidies, EIPIC costs Singapore citizens $5 to $430 a month; the exact fee depends on household income per person. MSF says the average wait for an EIPIC place fell to 5.5 months in 2025.

Which early intervention programme fits your child

ECDA matches children to programmes by how much support they need. These are the government-funded options and their fees for Singapore citizens after subsidies:

A child can't be on two MSF-funded EI programmes at once. You may still hear older names: DS-LS replaced the Development Support and Learning Support Programmes (DSP and LSP). KKH's and NUH's child development clinics also give consultations and interim therapy under MOH's Child Development Programme.

Who qualifies for EIPIC

• Your child is from birth to six years old.
• A paediatrician registered with the Singapore Medical Council has assessed your child as at risk of a developmental, intellectual, sensory or physical disability, or a combination.
• Your child is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Timing matters for older children. Children aged 6 and above can only be referred to EIPIC until 1 June each year, unless your child has an approved Primary 1 deferment from MOE. Our P1 registration guide covers the school timeline.

How referral works, step by step

1. Notice a concern. If your child seems to be missing milestones, use the milestones in their health booklet, or our milestone tracker, to note what you see.
2. See a doctor for screening. ECDA says to go to the nearest polyclinic or CHAS GP for a developmental screening.
3. Get an assessment. A polyclinic doctor refers your child to KKH's Department of Child Development or NUH's Child Development Unit, or you can see a private paediatrician.
4. The hospital or paediatrician submits the application to SG Enable with your consent.
5. SG Enable contacts you within 10 working days to help you choose an EI centre, based on your preference.
6. Your chosen centre contacts you within two weeks to arrange an intake screening.

At KKH, children flagged with developmental concerns first see a paediatrician for a full evaluation. NUH's Child Development Unit sees children from birth to K2 at Jurong Medical Centre and Keat Hong Community Club. If you prefer the private route, our guides to choosing a paediatrician and our paediatrician map help you find one. If the worry is mainly about behaviour, our guide to oppositional defiant disorder signs explains when defiance needs an assessment.

Waiting for a place

MSF said in July 2026 that the average wait to enrol in EIPIC had dropped from 7.5 months in 2023 to 5.5 months in 2025, as places grew from about 5,800 to 7,300. EI operators support children and families from the point of referral, not only once a child is enrolled, so ask your centre what help is available while you wait.

For a private EIPIC-P centre, the referral must come from KKH's Department of Child Development, NUH's Child Development Unit or a private paediatrician, through SG Enable. The operator contacts you within two weeks, and enrolment depends on vacancies.

Fees and subsidies

Fees for government-funded EI programmes are means-tested on your household's monthly income per person. Every Singapore citizen child in a government-funded EI programme gets a $500 monthly base subsidy, with more for lower-income families. MSF's worked example from 2019: a family of four earning $8,000 a month, or $2,000 per person, pays $130 a month for EIPIC.

ECDA publishes the full InSP table. Some of its bands, as maximum monthly fees:

For InSP, childcare fees are charged on top at the preschool's normal rate. Other ways to pay:

• Your child's Baby Bonus Child Development Account can pay EIPIC and EIPIC-P fees; our CDA calculator shows the balance.
• If your child attends EI and a regular preschool, the preschool part may still get preschool subsidies; try our childcare subsidy calculator.
• Transport subsidies are available for dedicated transport to EIPIC run by voluntary welfare organisations.

Questions to ask an EI centre

• How many hours a week will my child attend, and in what group size?
• Which therapists work with my child: speech, occupational or physiotherapy?
• How will you involve us at home, and how often do we get progress updates?
• What support is there while we're on the waiting list?
• How do you plan the move to preschool or Primary 1?

Our guides to baby milestones month by month and enrichment for children with special needs cover what comes before and alongside EI.

Frequently asked questions

What is EIPIC in Singapore?

The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, run at government-funded EI centres for children from birth to six whom a paediatrician assesses as at risk of a developmental, intellectual, sensory or physical disability.

How do I get my child into an early intervention programme?

Start at a polyclinic or CHAS GP for screening. You'll be referred to KKH's Department of Child Development or NUH's Child Development Unit, or you can see a private paediatrician, who applies to SG Enable with your consent.

How much does EIPIC cost?

Singapore citizens pay $5 to $430 a month after subsidies, set by household income per person, and CDA money can be used for the fees.

How long is the wait for EIPIC?

MSF reported an average wait of 5.5 months in 2025, down from 7.5 months in 2023. Centres support families from referral.

Can foreigners join EIPIC?

Government-funded EIPIC is for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. Ask a private provider about options for other children.