Our Learning Program
Admission to Mary Harding School
Age and Admission Requirements
- Recommended Age: Learners are admitted from age 6 and typically discharged by 18.
- Eligibility: Learners must have severe to moderate intellectual disabilities and significant delays in at least two areas of adaptive functioning (e.g., communication, self-care, social skills, etc.).
- Exclusion from Mainstream Curriculum: Students who face significant barriers in mainstream education are prioritized for admission. They must be independently mobile and not pose a safety risk.
ASD-Specific Admission
- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are admitted if they struggle with academic demands elsewhere, especially in areas such as social interaction, language and communication, or sensory processing.
Screening and Admission Process
- Referral and Documentation: Admissions are referred by district education authorities or medical professionals. Required documents include additional reports, birth certificates, and medical records.
- Intake Interview: The school’s support team (including teachers, nurse, and therapists) conducts an initial screening interview with parents and stakeholders.
- Observation Period: An observation phase follows, where the learner is assessed by various school personnel to determine needs. The length of this period varies.
- Final Decision: The school’s support team consults with all stakeholders and holds a feedback meeting with the family. If admitted, an educational plan is discussed; if not, assistance with alternative placements is provided.
School Governing Body (SGB)
- The SGB, elected in March 2021, includes 7 parents, 2 educators, 1 non-CS educator, and the principal (ex-officio). Meetings are held at least once a term.
School Status
- Mary Harding School operates as a public institution under the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), serving learners with Severe Intellectual Disability (SID) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Individual Support Plan (ISP)
Mary Harding School provides support to learners with higher support needs who cannot fully engage with the CAPS/DCAPS curriculum. An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is drafted for each learner in the ASD unit and used as their learning curriculum. The ISP is designed to cater for an individual learners' needs.
The following learning areas are included in the ISP:
- Gross motor, fine motor, and visual perceptual skills
- Sensory processing
- Emotional development
- Cognitive development
- Social interaction behavior
- Communication
- Functional literacy (reading, and writing)
- Functional mathematics
- Daily living and independence skills
- Vocational skills
The multi-disciplinary team collaborate to ensure each learner receives a suitable plan that accommodates their strengths and challenges. The multi-disciplinary team includes:
- Class educator
- Teacher assistant
- Parents/caregivers/guardians
- Occupational therapist
- Speech therapist
- Principal/deputy principal
- Any other relevant stakeholders, provided consent is given by both parents and the school
Elective Program
Mary Harding School offers elective subjects, designed to develop practical skills and foster creativity.
Our elective subjects include:
- Maintenance classes: learning a variety of interconnected skills within the maintenance sector, including health and safety, cleaning, and effective housekeeping. The emphasis is on practical activities that equip learners with skills they can apply in their daily home environments.
- Hospitality studies: introducing learners to essential skills in food preparation, customer service, hygiene and safety, cleaning and housekeeping, and workplace etiquette. This subject equips learners with the ability to prepare various recipes and meals, serve food, set tables for different dining occasions, and apply these skills to support potential future employment opportunities.
- Arts and crafts: to encourage self-expression, enhance fine motor skills, and stimulate creativity, providing a therapeutic and enjoyable learning experience. This learning program provides learners with knowledge and understanding of various materials, techniques, and processes that can be applied across different aspects of life and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Multi-Disciplinary Team
Mary Harding school is equipped with a multi-disciplinary team that plays an integral role in supporting our learners. The team includes:School Nurse
- Occupational Therapist
- Two Speech Therapists
School nurse
The school nurse plays a vital role in supporting student health and well-being. Our nurse's responsibilities include providing first aid and emergency care, managing chronic health conditions, conducting health screenings, promoting health education, and maintaining a safe school environment. Our nurse collaborates with parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals to ensure learners' physical and emotional needs are met, enabling them to fully participate in their education.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapist in our school helps learners overcome barriers to learning, enabling them to function independently both in the classroom and at home. Key areas of development include handwriting, motor skills, visual-perceptual abilities, concentration, social skills, leisure activities, coping strategies, and independence in daily activities like feeding, dressing, and personal hygiene. Interventions involve assessments, group therapy, collaboration with educators on adaptations and assistive devices, and liaising with external stakeholders, such as SARDA for therapeutic horse-riding and job shadowing programs. Activities are tailored to the learners' developmental stages and abilities, addressing sensory processing challenges and contributing to Individual Support Plans (ISPs). Additionally, the therapist supports graduates with work assessments, training, documentation, and transition to post-school placements. They also assist the SBST with screening and observing new learners.
Speech Therapy
The speech therapists plays a crucial role in enhancing communication and social skills within context, focusing on literacy, language, and social interactions. Our speech therapists address various challenges faced by our learners, such as difficulties with speech, conversational skills, and understanding nonverbal cues. A key aspect of their approach is the use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems, such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Makaton. PECS supports communication through pictures, while Makaton combines speech with signs and symbols to provide visual cues. Our speech therapists work closely with teachers and parents to implement these systems across environments, ensuring learners can communicate more effectively. Our speech therapists collaborate with educators to draft specific ISP goals based on individual assessments, aiming to improve both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, thereby supporting functional and meaningful communication development.
Sport
The school offers a sports program that includes netball and soccer, providing our learners with opportunities to develop physical skills, teamwork, and coordination.
Soccer
Our Soccer team participates in the soccer league for SID learners whereby our u/16 boys have excelled and hold the winning league title for 2024.
Netball
Our Netball team started up in mid-2024 and participate in the netball league for SID learners.
Excursions
- Horse riding
- Museum
- Library