Nurturing Academic Excellence
Homework support and targeted coaching aligned with each child's school curriculum, so they keep pace and grow confident in the classroom.
After-School Care · Singapore
Autism-focused After-school care for students with autism
A calm, structured sanctuary from 2 PM to 6 PM every weekday. We support students from MOE mainstream schools, St Andrew's, and Pathlight School with a nurturing 2:8 staff-to-student ratio.
- 2:8
- Staff ratio
- 2–6 PM
- Daily hours
- 5.0★
- Google rating
Trusted vendor to Pathlight School & ARC
Candy shares why we started Starlight Centre
Our Story
Built by parents who have lived this journey
When our son was diagnosed with autism, the hours after school became an endless source of anxiety — for him, and for us. Mainstream after-school options were overwhelming; specialised support was scarce and out of reach.
We spent years navigating therapists, sensory meltdowns, and the quiet guilt of never feeling like we were doing enough.
Slowly, we learned what actually helped: predictability, sensory regulation, and people who truly understood autism.
Today, our son is a confident learner — and the lessons we learned along the way became the foundation of Starlight Centre. We built the after-school care we once desperately searched for, so that other families wouldn't have to walk that road alone.
"By parents, for parents — because we've been where you are."
Candy Lee
Founder, Starlight Centre
Our Philosophy
Break the endless cycle of stress
For many children with autism, the school day doesn't really end — it loops into a relentless cycle of sensory overload, meltdowns, and exhaustion that repeats the next morning. At Starlight Centre, we break that cycle.
Sensory overload prevention
We design a low-arousal environment and predictable routines that keep children regulated from the moment they arrive — preventing overload before it starts, rather than managing it after.
Positive behavioural support
Guided by our BCBA-led team, we reinforce the behaviours that help children thrive — teaching skills, building momentum, and helping each child leave with a sense of accomplishment, not anxiety.
Celebrating progress over perfect scores
We measure success in milestones, not marks — celebrating every small win so children build confidence and a genuine love for learning, free from the pressure of perfect scores.
Core Pillars
See full programs Five pillars of growth, every afternoon
Our programmes are built on five evidence-based pillars that together help each child learn, connect, and grow in confidence.
Fostering Social & Communication Skills
Structured group activities and guided peer interaction that build genuine connection, turn-taking, and self-expression.
Equipping for Life Beyond School
Practical life skills — from self-care and organisation to community navigation — that prepare children for independence.
Good Learner Repertoire
The foundational behaviours that make learning possible: sitting, attending, following instructions, and responding to feedback.
Early Detection of Skill Deficits
Ongoing assessment by our BCBA-led team to identify gaps early and intervene before they become barriers.
One calm, structured afternoon
Every pillar is woven into the daily 2 PM – 6 PM rhythm, so progress happens naturally within a routine children can trust.
Plan a visitWhy Starlight?
Specialist care, with a parent's heart
We combine clinical expertise with the empathy that only comes from having walked this path ourselves.
By parents, for parents
Founded by parents who have walked this path — we understand the exhaustion, the worry, and the hope.
Qualified BCBA & psychologist team
Our programmes are designed and supervised by Board Certified Behaviour Analysts and psychologists.
ABA / evidence-based methodology
Every intervention we use is grounded in applied behaviour analysis and peer-reviewed research.
Competitive, quality fees
Professional, specialist care at fees that respect the realities of family budgets.
2:8 staff-to-student ratio
Two staff to eight students — enough individual attention for genuine progress, in a calm group setting.
Trusted by mainstream
Official vendor to Pathlight School & ARC
Recognised by Singapore's leading institutions for autism education.
Starlight Centre is an official vendor for Pathlight School and the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), providing after-school and holiday programmes tailored to autistic learners.
Since 2024, we have been delivering conversational Mandarin language instruction within their programmes, helping students build confidence and communication skills in a supportive, sensory-aware environment.
Loved by families
Rated 5.0 by parents on Google
Real words from families who trust Starlight with their children's afternoons.
5.0 rating · 13+ reviews on Google
"My son has greatly enjoyed his time at Starlight where the teachers there have been taking great care of his after-school activities, e.g. food, guiding him on his homework, social skills etc. He just had tremendous fun with the June holiday programs that the centre has organised - his favourite will be the taekwondo session, museum visitation and outdoor activities etc. Would really recommend the centre to parents who require after-school care for their special child."
Chin Phung Tan
Google review · June 2025
"It was a joy conducting a 4-day art workshop with 9 lovely Starlighters. The centre has a bright, natural sunlight pours in through the big windows, welcoming space for the kids. The teachers are parents of autistic children, or certified therapists, and some with the master in psychology background. You can really feel their dedication in every interaction."
Visual Xplorer
Google review · June 2025
"Our son initially struggled both at school and his previous student care, facing challenges in adapting. Ever since joining Starlight, he's grown tremendously, becoming more confident in speaking, especially in Chinese, and adapting wonderfully to student care life. The caring and supportive nature of the teachers has created a safe environment where he feels comfortable to grow, learn, and even make mistakes."
Jason Chong
Google review · March 2025
In their own words
Hear from the parents
Families share what Starlight Centre has meant for their children.
An after school care for special needs student in Singapore
During our time with ISADD (ABA therapy), they had many successful cases of students transitioning from near-zero verbal skills to a high-functioning autistic child entering mainstream education (Pathlight Primary School).
When the children transition to higher learning, they will need more time to cater to the increasing demand for schoolwork, which outweighs the need for specialised behavioural therapy care. So, they eventually drop out to have more time for academic tuition, etc.
However, we soon realise our journey with the child doesn't stop there. We need to fill a new gap: a specialised after-school care programme for special needs students in Singapore.
Transitioning is scary
After all, transitioning from child care to a school with a more extensive environment is stressful, even for a neurotypical kid; it is worse if you are also suffering from sensory and speech delays. That is why we always recommend that parents go to Pathlight or another specialised school that knows how to deal with a child with special needs rather than try to go mainstream. It is better for your child and yourself.
Not easy to find a specialised after school care for special needs
In Singapore, it is normal for kids to go for after school care services as parents are usually working. There are many after school care for normal kids, but finding one that provides specialised student care services for special needs kids is impossible.
There are some special needs after-school care services. Though they provide some comfort for the parents in caring for your child while you are working, they are usually too overwhelmed to do other things besides ensuring their basic needs are well taken care of. They further compounded the problem by accepting kids in all case scenarios, from Down syndrome to low-functioning kids with autism. You can see how the well-being of your high-functioning kids can go downhill from there. Regressing is a real issue here.
Starlight Autism student care centre allows our special needs children to learn well in a conducive environment.
Starlight is born
We soon realised the child's transitioning journey isn't complete if we don't continue to play a part in the child's journey. In the past, we adjusted their behaviour and did speech therapy when they were five. When they are 8 or 9, we need to teach them how to make friends and socialise when they are in school. Socialising is easy for normal kids, but it is not easy for a special needs child; human communication and understanding behaviour just isn't natural to them.
On top of that, we need to provide school work support to ensure that they continue to do well and not suffer any stress, leading to mental health issues later on.
