Therapy Services

Occupational therapy

In occupational therapy at Destinata School, we mainly treat learners with somato-sensory delays (e.g. tactile, vestibular problems), postural-motor delays (e.g. balance, coordination problems) and visual perceptual delays (e.g. spatial relations, visual memory)

Children receive therapy in a group of  2 – 5 learners. Motor groups can be larger.

Depending on the number therapists employed, learners from Gr.R – Gr.5 with delays receive therapy.

 Psychology department

Counselors provide counseling programs in the following domains:  academic, career and personal / social and life skills.  Group and individual counseling help learners to resolve emotional, social or behavioral problems and help them develop a clearer focus and sense of direction.  Interviews with parents are regarded as crucial opportunities to find solutions to problems and enhance good relationships between the school and the adult in the learners life.

A clinical psychologist visits the school regularly to do intensive psychotherapy with selective learners. 

Speech therapy:

Areas of expertise include learning disabilities, articulation/speech defects, auditory processing disabilities, audiology, neurology, and aphasia, to name but a few.

Speech therapy is provided for the Gr O-5 and Special Needs learners (with specific auditory processing and language delays) on a weekly basis during school hours. Learners attend a minimum of three sessions per week which consists of small groups, thereby ensuring individual attention.

Hearing evaluations are done annually as well as the follow-up on hearing aid apparatus. 

Remedial therapy:

Remedial therapy consists of all actions that lend learning support to learners in reading, spelling, writing and mathematics. This includes the development of vocabulary, reading strategies, knowledge of spelling rules, understanding of what is read as well as writing skills.

Learners (Gr. 1-6) receive remedial therapy in small groups (2-5 learners),  2 to 3 x/week, depending on the number of therapists employed. Remedial teaching strategies are used in the normal academic classes in all the grades as ongoing part of the learning support strategy.

All learners’ (Gr.1-6) progress in spelling, reading and mathematics are assessed on a yearly basis.

Amanuenses are made available to all learners in need of support during tests and exams.

Tape aid is also available to learners who struggle with reading or just learn better by listening than reading, for study purposes. 

BENEFITS OF AUXILLIARY SERVICES IN SCHOOL:

• Learners Gr.R – Gr.5 receive therapy in areas of need.

• Therapy includes remedial therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, handwriting therapy, horse riding therapy, study methods, speech therapy, auditory processing, language therapy and emotional therapy.
• Auxiliary services also assist the school with physical training and career guidance.
• Therapy is done during school hours and is included in the school fees.
• Therapy is given in small groups 1 – 4x/week per department.
• Screening tests for hearing can be done at school.
• Multi-disciplinary team approach ensures close observation of learners’ progress.
• The psychology department ensures the appropriate handling of learner matters.
• Parent days ensures feedback to parents about learners with the multi-disciplinary team members present