Casa do Sol School for Learners with Special Educational needs caters for learners between the ages of six and twenty-one. The cause and nature of the learners’ special needs and barriers to learning are wide-ranging and diverse, although the primary disability is intellectual impairment.
Casa Do Sol is a public Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) school, and the school follows the prescribed guidelines and policies of the GDE. The school receives a Government subsidy and has a dedicated staff and parent body that works hard at raising additional funds in order to finance the purchase of additional teaching and learning resources, and other projects.
The educators are assisted by support staff which includes teaching assistants, Speech & Language Therapists and an Occupational Therapist. All teaching and support staff are qualified and highly competent, and the staff body is dedicated and committed to creating a nurturing and positive environment in which the learners can develop to their full potential.
The Differentiated Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (DCAPS) which is currently being piloted at Casa do Sol, is designed to meet the individual needs and interests of each learner and to ensure their holistic development. Subjects offered are Language, Mathematics and Life Skills (which includes Personal & Social Well-being, Physical Education & Creative Arts). Subject Skills and a School-to-Work Programme forms part of the DCAPS Curriculum for the senior learners. A strong emphasis is placed on the development of Life Skills, as it is imperative that each learner is equipped with the skills they need, in order to be as independent as possible.
The co-curricula and extra-curricula activities that are offered at the school includes music, woodwork and woodcrafts, cooking & baking, gardening and pottery. Sporting activities include horse riding, ice-skating, swimming, soccer, netball, water aerobics, lawn bowls and adaptive sports. All learners are included and encouraged to participate in the annual Sports Days and Swimming Galas. These events are adapted to accommodate the varying abilities and talents of the learners. School camps and a variety of other social and educational outings, are included in our school calendar and form an integral part of our curriculum.
Casa do Sol School plays a vital role in creating awareness and educating the community about special educational needs and other issues related to disability in general. In an effort to integrate the learners in a more inclusive environment, Casa do Sol has forged strong links with other schools and the local business community. This has created training and work opportunities for some of our school leavers in local businesses, and has served to foster an attitude of understanding and tolerance in the community.
At Casa do Sol we embrace the cultural, religious and racial diversity of the learners and staff in the daily school programme, and in our annual celebrations, festivals and concerts. We ‘Celebrate our Abilities’ and take great pride in our achievements and successes, some of which include learners swimming the Midmar Mile, competing and representing South Africa at the Special Olympics in swimming and ice-skating and being awarded Honours at Eisteddfod’s and Art Festivals.
Casa do Sol is committed to ensuring the school is truly a place in the sun for our learners.