Childcare teacher used pen to repeatedly stab head & face of boy, 6, with special needs

An early intervention teacher at a childcare centre for children with special needs repeatedly stabbed a six-year-old boy’s head with a pen while she was the only adult in the classroom.

The 45-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to ill-treating the child and will be sentenced on Jun. 22, 2026.

Her identity, along with those of the victim and the childcare centre, cannot be disclosed due to a gag order.

Attack captured on CCTV

The incident happened at about 3:03pm on Nov. 16, 2022, when the boy walked towards a table where stationery was kept.

According to court documents, the teacher picked up a pen, rushed towards him, and stabbed his head several times.

During the attack, the boy moved backwards, crouched on one knee and eventually fell near a mat as she continued striking his head with the pen.

After the assault, she left him lying on the mat and walked away.

The incident was captured on classroom CCTV footage.

Gave false explanation to parents

Later that day, the teacher sent a photo of the boy’s injuries to a group chat with his parents and the centre’s principal, claiming he had hurt himself with toys.

She later repeated the same explanation in a phone call with his mother.

Suspicious of the teacher’s explanation, the boy’s mother asked the principal to review the classroom CCTV footage.

After viewing the footage, the principal discovered what had happened, informed the family and lodged a police report on Nov. 17, 2022.

The teacher’s employment at the centre was terminated the same day.

Child suffered head injuries

The boy, who was six years old at the time, has autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

He also had significant speech delay and could only speak one word at a time when the incident occurred in 2022, the court heard.

He was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital by his mother, where doctors found three abrasions to his scalp and left eyebrow ridge.

He was given nine days of medical leave.

The child still has a scar on his left forehead.

Prosecution: child was especially vulnerable

Deputy Public Prosecutor Emily Koh said the woman had been working as an early childhood educator for about 10 years.

She added that the boy’s young age and developmental condition made him especially vulnerable.

“The victim was more vulnerable than a typical six-year-old by virtue of his special needs… and was only able to verbalise one word at a time,” the prosecution said in submissions to the court.

The prosecution also noted that the teacher inflicted multiple blows to the child’s head and face, which are vulnerable parts of the body.

“There was no evidence of the victim provoking or frustrating her. She had abused the victim for no reason at all,” Koh said, as reported by The Straits Times (ST).

Attempt to conceal offence considered aggravating factor

Prosecutors said the accused’s attempts to conceal the offence by giving false explanations to the victim’s mother and the centre’s principal were aggravating factors in sentencing.

“The accused had told the lie not only once, but twice,” they said, referring to her messages and phone call to the victim’s mother.

Incident left child traumatised

According to the victim’s mother, the boy “often [cried] for the first three weeks, especially (at) night for no apparent reason” after the incident, ST reported.

She also said he became more needy and required additional care from his parents for about two to three months afterwards, and that his appetite was affected during that period.

Prosecution seeking at least 23 - 27 months’ jail

The prosecution said a custodial sentence is warranted given the child’s vulnerability, the abuse of trust involved, and the use of an implement during the assault.

They are seeking a jail term of between 23 and 27 months.

Sentencing has been adjourned to Jun. 22, 2026.