May 7–8, 2026 · Common Ground Civic Centre · 10am–3pm
Every year, we ask ourselves the same question at Little U: what would it look like if Singapore’s education system truly worked for every child?
Not just the children who fit the mould. Not just the ones who test well, sit still, and move through the system without friction. But the anxious child who shuts down before exams. The neurodivergent child whose strengths are invisible on a report card. The child who carries something heavy to school every morning — something their teacher has no training to see, let alone respond to.
We’ve been asking this question since Little U was founded. And each year, more families, educators, and practitioners are asking it too.
The Alternative Education Forum 2026 is our answer to that question — not as a single solution, but as a shared conversation. A room where the people closest to children get to say, honestly, what they see and what they think needs to change.
What is the Alternative Education Forum?
AEF is an annual gathering organised by Little U, bringing together educators, parents, school leaders, social workers, nonprofit leaders, and policymakers to examine Singapore’s education landscape — its strengths, its gaps, and the practical alternatives that are already working.
This year’s theme is Education Reform: It’s All About Relationships.
Because when we look at what actually helps children thrive — in school, at home, in therapeutic environments, in nature — it always comes back to relationships. Between teacher and student. Between parent and child. Between a child and their own sense of self.
AEF 2026 runs over two days, each with a distinct purpose.
Day 1, Thursday 7 May — Theory as Change
What’s broken — and what should replace it?
We open with a keynote by Alasdair Roy, one of Australia’s leading child rights specialists with over 30 years of experience in child welfare and education policy. Alasdair has held senior roles as Children and Young People Commissioner and Senior Child Advocate in Australia, and now consults internationally — including as a Visiting Associate at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, which he considers a second home.
His keynote, “What is the Problem with Education?”, does something deceptively simple: it starts with what children and young people themselves say about school. Not what adults assume they think. Not what the data says from a distance. What children actually say, when someone listens.
In the afternoon, three expert presentations make the evidence-based case for reform — each speaker taking a clear position, sharing the research behind it, and opening the floor to honest questions.
Presentation 1: The Case for Change
For neurodivergent, anxious, and otherwise vulnerable children, the gaps in Singapore’s education system are not minor inconveniences — they are consequential. Three practitioners examine the evidence on class sizes, assessment design, and how teachers are trained and supported. Speakers include Sandra Charis-Tee (Agape Educational Therapy), Dr. Jason Tan (National Institute of Education), and Pooja Bhandari (EveryChild.SG).
Presentation 2: The Case for Trauma-Informed Education
A significant number of children arrive at school each day carrying experiences that affect how they learn, relate, and cope — and most educators have little training to recognise this. This session makes the case for trauma-informed practice as a school-wide commitment, not a specialist service. Speakers include Ng Chuen-Yin (Brave Feats), Dawn Fung (Little U), Dr. Hana Alhadad (Hayat Collective), and Narasimman s/o Tivasiha Mani (Impart).
Presentation 3: The Case for Alternative Education
A growing number of Singapore families are choosing to homeschool, seeking flexibility and child-centred learning. For children with more complex needs, therapeutic environments offer support that mainstream schools often cannot. And play is not a break from learning — it is how children learn best. Speakers include Charlotte Goh (Playeum), Kalsum Harun (Homeschool Singapore), and Lin Shiyun (3Pumpkins).
Day 2, Friday 8 May — Theory as Practice
Yesterday we made the case. Today we build the toolkit.
Alasdair returns for Day 2 to shift the conversation from diagnosis to action. His second keynote, “From Understanding to Action”, asks: what does meaningful change actually look like when you are a teacher, a parent, or a school leader? What gets in the way — and what, realistically, can be done?
In the afternoon, attendees choose one of three hands-on workshops led by alternative educators working in Singapore right now.
Workshop 1: Beyond Grades — Competency-Based Assessment in Action
Led by Vivian Kwek, CFO of Little U and author of Decoding Your Child. Vivian shares how Little U’s microschool tracks progress without grades — using outcome maps, rubrics, and student feedback cycles. Leave with practical templates you can implement immediately.
Workshop 2: Designing Environments for Creative Confidence
Led by Lee Hoi Leong, Co-founder of VIVITA Singapore. Hoi Leong explores frameworks for nurturing creative confidence in children, drawing from VIVITA’s maker studio and programs. Through peer learning and practical examples, you’ll leave with ready-to-use ideas for transforming your learning environment.
Workshop 3: Outdoors — How the Forest Teaches Us to Relate Better
Led by Darren Quek, Founder of Forest School Singapore. Nature is not a backdrop — it’s a teacher. Darren explores how outdoor and nature-based learning builds resilience, curiosity, and self-regulation in young people, and how you can bring these principles into your own context — with or without a forest nearby.
Who should come?
AEF 2026 is designed for anyone who works with, teaches, raises, or cares about children in Singapore. That includes:
- Educators and school leaders looking for evidence-based approaches and practical tools
- Parents — whether your child is thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between
- Social workers working with children and families navigating difficult circumstances
- Nonprofit leaders designing programmes and support ecosystems for vulnerable children
- Policymakers who want to understand what reform looks like on the ground
The children we talk about at AEF move between all of these worlds every single day. The most useful conversations happen when the adults in those worlds are in the same room.
With grateful thanks to our volunteers
AEF 2026 would not happen without the dedication of our volunteer team, who give their time and energy to make this a welcoming, well-run space for everyone who walks through the door.
Get your tickets
Early Bird pricing is available until 30 March 2026.
- Both days: $80 early bird | $90 regular
- Day 1 only: $40 early bird | $45 regular
- Day 2 only: $40 early bird | $45 regular
All tickets include Alasdair Roy’s keynote for your selected day(s). Day 1 includes all three expert presentations. Day 2 includes one workshop of your choice.
10% of all proceeds go to Unlocking ADHD.
