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Melbourne International School Singapore
Melbourne International School Singapore follows the Australian curriculum and positions itself as providing personalized education with low student to teacher ratios. Parent testimonials highlight the school's supportive approach and individual learning plans tailored to each student.
In brief
Melbourne International School Singapore is a specialist school for children with special educational needs, teaching around 60 pupils aged 3–18 from a small, single-storey campus at Loewen Gardens near Dempsey. Founded in 2014 by Jayne Nadarajoo, who also established the ASPIRE Centre for Special Education and still leads the school, it follows the Australian curriculum and holds WASC and EDUTRUST accreditation.
Arts-based therapy is the core of how the school teaches. Classroom staff work alongside specialists in dance, music, art and drama, therapists including occupational and speech support form part of day-to-day provision, and each child follows an individual learning programme aimed at academic, social and vocational skills. The staffing ratio is reported at one teacher to four pupils. The campus carries specialist spaces including a gym and a sensory retreat, with swimming off site.
Admissions run on a rolling basis, and the school encourages prospective pupils to spend a day on site before applying. Annual fees run from SGD 28,600 in the early years to SGD 38,700 in the upper transition classes.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years, Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten | 3 | SGD 28,600 |
| Foundation 1 & Foundation 2 | 5 | SGD 33,400 |
| Victorian Curriculum Level 1 to 5 | 6 | SGD 33,400 |
| Pathways 3 & Pathways 4 (SEN) | 7 | SGD 36,000 |
| Transition 5 & Transition 6 (SEN) | 10 | SGD 38,700 |
Reviews
<a href="/international-schools/singapore/melbourne-international-school">Melbourne International School Singapore</a> is profiled by a specialist schools advisory publication as a specialist school for students with special educational needs, using arts-based therapy to support literacy, numeracy and independent living. Independent parent commentary is otherwise thin in public.
What the school is built to do
In its March 2026 review, the publication describes a small setting (around 60 students) with a low teacher-to-student ratio (reported as 1:4), combining classroom teaching with specialists in dance, music, art and drama and access to therapists including occupational and speech support. The publication says the approach targets academic learning alongside social and vocational skills.
Campus and admissions
The same publication places the campus in Loewen Gardens near Dempsey, describing a small, single-storey site with specialist spaces (including a gym and sensory retreat) and off-site swimming. It reports a rolling admissions process, with prospective students encouraged to spend a day at school before applying.
Bottom line
For families seeking a specialist SEN setting, the clearest independent picture of Melbourne International School is the detailed March 2026 review published by the specialist schools advisory publication. Broader parent review coverage is limited.
Positives
- Therapy-informed, arts-led learning. The March 2026 profile by <a href="https://whichschooladvisor.com/singapore/school-review/melbourne-international-school">WhichSchoolAdvisor</a> emphasises arts-based therapy as the core delivery model for learning and life skills.
- Specialist staffing and low ratios. <a href="https://whichschooladvisor.com/singapore/school-review/melbourne-international-school">WhichSchoolAdvisor</a> reports a small roll and low ratios, with specialist teachers and therapists forming part of day-to-day provision.
- Individualised learning plans. The school is described by <a href="https://whichschooladvisor.com/singapore/school-review/melbourne-international-school">WhichSchoolAdvisor</a> as providing individual learning programmes tailored to student needs.
Considerations
- Facilities and setting. <a href="https://whichschooladvisor.com/singapore/school-review/melbourne-international-school">WhichSchoolAdvisor</a> describes a small, single-storey campus with specialist rooms and some off-site activity provision.
Leadership
Jayne Nadarajoo
Jayne Nadarajoo has been teaching, designing and implementing educational programmes for more than 30 years. She founded the White Lodge Education Group Services, then later The Melbourne International School (MIS) and ASPIRE Centre for Special Education to serve children with diverse needs.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
- EDUTRUST 02