Finding the Best Special Needs School in Hong Kong

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN) SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG

As all parents of children with special needs are aware, the type of support required by individual children is incredibly varied. In Hong Kong, a fairly wide range of SEN school options is available for children who speak Chinese. Much useful information about about education and welfare provision for all special needs children can be found, in English as well as Chinese, on the Education Bureau’s website. Also worth checking is the website of the Special Needs Network.

Unfortunately it can be more challenging to find special needs schools for children who do not speak Chinese. The main English-language special needs school is the long-established Jockey Club Sarah Roe School which is open to pupils from 5 to 19. All the students there have special needs: many have autism and some have complex needs. The school is situated in Homantin, in Kowloon. In recent years, many international schools have begun to provide inclusive and professional assistance to students who have special needs but who benefit from being in a mainstream school including pupils with, for example, ADHD, dyslexia and some autistic spectrum disorders. It is very important, however, to check carefully that a school you are considering can cater for your child’s specific needs.
Schools offering support include the following:

- English Schools Foundation schools
- Hong Kong Academy
- International Christian School
- Australian International School
- The Harbour School
- HKILA (Discovery Bay)

Other centres which support children and/or young adults with special needs include:

- The Watchdog Early Learning Centre
- The Child Development Centre
- The Nesbitt Centre (young adults)
- Youth Empowerment Service (young adults)

We hope you can find the type of support you need in Hong Kong and will be happy to help if you have further questions.