Curro Monaghan on 8 October launched an assisted learning stream for learners with unique needs, alongside their current mainstream offering in Johannesburg.
Curro, South Africa’s biggest independent school operator, will be offering this service from January 2020.
Judy Wearne, executive head at Curro Monaghan, explained that the school’s approach is aimed at learners with an average to above-average IQ, who require additional support in order to achieve expected competencies in the fundamental academic skills, literacy and numeracy. “Our aim is to equip learners with the required capabilities to ultimately return to a mainstream school within two to three years,” she says.
It will be initially offered to grades 2 to 4 learners, according to Wearne, “The earlier a child is exposed to and understands academic concepts, the better chance they have to successfully learn and retain those concepts. If a child does not grasp the fundamentals of language and mathematics at the correct age, it may be difficult, less successful, or even impossible, to develop these functions later in life. The quality of teaching and learning in grades 2 to 4 is especially of vital importance.”
The decision to offer this additional stream is Curro’s mission to offer a variety of educational options for learners and parents, “We recognise that learners do not all learn in the same way and we want to tailor our offerings to give every child access to quality education. This means providing different types of learning strategies, all within a nurturing environment.”
This specific learning stream also focuses on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic (physical movement) stimuli using a practical, hands-on approach within small groups, which helps to instil in learners confidence. As with the mainstream schooling approach, Curro Monaghan’s learners will have access to the full complement of sporting, cultural and social programmes on offer.
Wearne added, “Assisted learning is ideal for learners of average to above-average ability who have specific barriers to learning, such as those with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, anxiety disorders, and so on.”
For more information about Curro Monaghan, email info.monaghan@curro.co.za or contact 087 285 4760.
School tours available every Tuesday and Thursday between 9am to 11am.
