Programmes

Educational

The school currently implements the Department Basic Education Draft Curriculum for Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities (DCAPS), Grade R-5.

This curriculum is offered in all three areas of impairments: Learning & Cognition, Neurological & Neuro-developmental and Physical Impairments and is mainly practical and vocational. The educational programme is divided into five phases: Junior Foundation, Foundation, Intermediate, Senior Phaseand the final Vocational Orientation year.

The main focus is on the acquisition of skills and knowledge to:

Develop maximum independence and life skills
Attain a level of productivity where the school-leaver is able to make a meaningful contribution to his own work environment and the economy and
Enable the school-leaver to be less dependent on government subsidies and charitable organizations.

The educational programme includes the following:

Receptive and Expressive Language
Numeracy and Functional Mathematics
Social and Emotional Development
Perceptual Motor Development
Fine Motor Development
Life Orientation
Art and Culture
Technology Enhanced Learning Systems
In the Senior Phase the learners are exposed to vocational skills:
- Agricultural Studies - focusing on soil preparation, planting and harvesting thorough permaculture gardening principles.
- Hospitality Studies - focusing on baking, cooking and activities of daily living in the food preparation areas.
- Arts & Crafts - focusing on making and creating products and environmental sustainability through recycling.
Most learners will always need support in basic Literacy, Numeracy and Life skills.

Therapies

Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapists at Bel Porto support the teachers by running therapeutic groups in and out of the classrooms. They design and make aids and adaptations to enable maximum learner participation in the classroom. They are part of the assessment team and are involved with vocational training.

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist treats the children individually using NDT principles. Other forms of therapy provided by the physiotherapy department are horse riding, sport for the disabled and hydrotherapy. They are involved, together with the occupational therapist, in the assessment of aids and seating adaptations needed by the learners in order to enable them to perform at their optimal level. Physios are part of the admission team and are involved in the initial and ongoing assessment to evaluate the suitability of each learner at the school.

Speech and Language Therapy

A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) provides sessions for the promotion and improvement of language development, communication skills and speech quality. A private SLT is also at hand for parents who wish to employ her for SLT sessions at school.

South African Riding for the Disabled

Based on the Physiotherapist recommendation, selected learners attend South African Riding for the Disabled (SARDA).

Seasonal Projects

More information coming soon