June 22, 2026
How Invictus Dempsey’s ELS Supports English Language Learners
Discover how Invictus Dempsey’s specialist ELS programme helps English language learners access the full curriculum and find their footing at school.
Discover how Invictus Dempsey’s specialist ELS programme helps English language learners access the full curriculum and find their footing at school.
Moving your family to Singapore is exciting, but it can be a little overwhelming. New routines, new faces, a new city to figure out. For many children in international and expatriate families, there is one more layer to navigate that parents often worry about most: starting school in a language they are still learning.
English is the medium of instruction across virtually all international school curricula in Singapore. For children who have grown up speaking Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, or another mother tongue at home, the classroom can feel like a very daunting place very quickly. That anxiety is completely normal, and with the right, targeted support, children can move from hesitant to confident far faster than most parents expect.
This is exactly the gap that the English Language Support (ELS) Programme at Invictus International School Dempsey Campus is designed to fill.
Why English Language Support is More Than “Extra Tuition”
There is an important distinction between a child who needs a bit of extra homework help and a child who is learning English for academic purposes from the ground up. The latter has a dual challenge: not only are they acquiring a new language, but they are also simultaneously trying to access a full curriculum through it. Multilingual learners may be entirely capable academically in their home language, yet still unable to fully access the same content in English, and the curriculum does not wait.
This is why specialist, structured support matters, and why generic classroom remediation rarely goes far enough. It is worth reading more about unique educational programmes and how schools are approaching this challenge in different ways.
What Makes the Invictus ELS Programme Different
The programme is built around a multi-sensory approach to language learning, engaging sight, sound, and touch together. Rather than relying on a single mode of instruction, lessons are designed to help different kinds of learners absorb and hold onto new language in ways that actually stick.
The curriculum is grounded in the UK-based Bell Foundation framework for English Language Learners, developed and tested by specialists in the field. It follows a structured pathway that moves students through social proficiency, then functional proficiency, and finally academic proficiency, each stage differentiated by year level. Throughout every stage, the programme targets:
- The four core language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- Three consistent pillars: phonics, spelling, and vocabulary building
Something parents do not always expect is how much the learning environment itself shapes progress. Lessons follow a highly predictable, routine-based structure because, for a child still finding their footing in a new language, knowing exactly what comes next makes the classroom feel a lot less daunting. That sense of safety is where real learning begins.
How the Programme is Delivered
Classes are kept to a maximum of six students. Smaller groups mean:
- Fewer distractions
- More frequent, personalised feedback from the teacher
- Stronger bonds between students and their ELS specialist
Students currently attend four 40-minute pull-out sessions each week, stepping away from their mainstream class for targeted instruction before returning. This means they stay connected to their year group and do not miss out on the social side of school.
From August 2026, the programme is expanding. Here is what is changing:
- Tier 2 (moderate support): Four 60-minute sessions per week for more sustained learning time, at an additional fee
- Tier 3 (intensive support): An extra three hours of weekly support, covered entirely under the standard programme fee — a meaningful commitment to making sure the children who need the most help always get it
For families whose children need the most intensive support, it is reassuring to know that the extra hours come at no additional cost, fully covered by the standard programme fee.
Placement is through a low-pressure, informal baseline assessment in-school, a simple process of getting to know each child at their actual level of ability rather than simply going by age.
The People Behind the Programme
The ELS programme is led by specialists with multiple years of experience in language intervention, trained in targeted strategies and differentiated learning. Working in small groups over time, they get to know each child well enough to adjust their approach as the child progresses. For parents who have seen their child come home quiet and deflated after a difficult day in class, that kind of consistent, personalised attention can make a meaningful difference.
Practical Details
The annual cost is $4,905, billed termly to give families financial flexibility. The termly structure also allows for completely flexible entry and exit, so a child can move out of ELS as soon as ongoing school assessments show they are ready to thrive independently in the mainstream classroom.
Ready to Find Out More?
Every child’s language journey is different, and the best starting point is a conversation. The admissions team at Invictus International School at Dempsey Hill is happy to discuss your child’s specific language profile, walk you through the informal assessment process, or arrange a private campus tour so you can see the learning environment for yourself. Reach out to the Dempsey Hill admissions team to take that first step.
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