School Setup

Therapists

The Alma therapy team consists of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. We adopt a holistic team approach and learners are always managed within the team (Physio, OT, Teacher, Nurse, Grade HOD) to ensure optimal development of the child. The parent and/or relevant doctors form part of the extended team. It is for this reason that the therapists are responsible for the admission assessment of learners applying for space at Alma School. Human resources, space and time is limited, and individual therapy is seldom offered. Our therapists, however, work on time tables and use their discretion to prioritize and plan for individual and/or group sessions. The therapists consult with teachers on a regular basis to ensure therapy is optimized and class recommendations are followed through. Staff in-service training, parent evening talks and taxi-driver training sessions are arranged regularly. Twice a year, all therapists are involved in the corrective seating of all the school’s learners in the classrooms. In addition, some therapists (OT and Physio) focus on ensuring that learners who are in wheelchairs, are seated optimally to reduce the risks of contractures and pressure sores. All Therapists are involved in whole school development and is thus required to perform additional tasks such as: fundraising, coaching sports, being bus representatives, doing community outreach, assist with disability awareness campaigns etc. • Physiotherapy Alma School has physiotherapists that oversee, manage and treat our physically disabled learners in small groups and/or for individual therapy. Therapy is aimed at muscle strengthening, maintaining and facilitating normal development, coordination, balance, muscle tone, range of movement, posture and lung function. Assistive/Mobility devices are provided by the school, for use during school, to learners who require them. Each assistive/mobility device fits the needs of the child. This promotes effective participation in the classroom and other school activities. The Physiotherapists assist with post-operative intervention, rehabilitation and parental guidance and will work with the doctors on recommendations and consultations where possible. The Physiotherapists also oversee an Orthopaedic outreach clinic from Steve Biko held once or twice a term. Alma School Physiotherapy Department also supervises the University of Pretoria 4th year Physiotherapy Student’s Paediatric Neurology Clinical Practical’s. • Occupational Therapy Alma School has Occupational Therapists and each therapist works in a specifically allocated Grade based on experience and expertise. Therapy differs slightly within the Grades and in brief includes (but are not limited to) the following: • Support Grade: Therapy is aimed at equipping and supporting the teacher with individualized support for learners using AAC methods, differentiating curriculum outcomes, sensory modulation strategies, behaviour modification and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade R: Therapy is focused on sensory stimulation and the facilitation of normal development (e.g. mastery of major milestones, development of gross motor skills, development of ADL skills, etc.) Therapy is mostly presented in groups and where needed, the therapist also assists the teacher to individualize support plans for learners. The therapist is also involved in behaviour modification strategies and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade 1-3: Therapy is now mostly focused on the facilitation of perceptual development, but refinement of the Stimulation Grade’s outcomes is still taking place. Therapy is still mostly presented in groups and where needed, the therapist assists the teacher to individualize support plans for learners. The therapist stays also involved in behaviour modification strategies and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade 4 & 5: In these Grades, the focus of therapy shifts towards preparing the learners to integrate into society after school. The therapists focus mostly on the development of independence and appropriate social skills. The few who might be able to enter the labour market (sheltered or protected) are prepared as best possible (e.g. through work simulation and encouraging good work habits and work ethics). The outcomes of all the previous Grades are considered when making recommendations regarding a life after school. In the year that the child turns 16, the therapists facilitates the communication process regarding future planning and parents are encouraged to visit different placement options for their child. The therapists have individual consultations and give parental guidance where needed. Due to the challenges that the teenage years present, the therapists often provide individual counselling and/or play therapy sessions to help learners understand and deal with aspects such as difficult emotions, managing conflict, basic problem solving and also dealing with concerns about their future. The therapists stay involved in behaviour modification strategies and ensure appropriate assistive devices are available and used.

Clinic

School Professional Nurse • Sr Priscilla Bezuidenhout • Sr Pride Skosana Job purpose: • Medical care of learners and supervising staff in medical and related matters. Aim / Objective: • Manage medical and related matters in an effective and functional way, at the school. • Supervising medical matters. • Care for the medical needs of the learners. • Serve as member of the professional team. • Training staff. Medical Knowledge In Dealing With: • Epilepsy. • Medical emergencies in general. • Control of medication. Ability to function within a professional team and to take responsibility for medical matters. • Advise the staff and parents. • Observation of the medical condition of learners and report to the doctors. Training Of Staff Members In: • First Aid • HIV/AIDS • Epileptic fits / Emergencies • Cross infection • Hygiene • Medical regulations and policies Medicine: • Chronic Medicine is given out to learners on request of parents as prescribed • by child's medical practitioner or clinic and recorded. • On written request, acute medication supplied by parents is given at school and recorded. • Emergency medicine: very basic medicine is kept at school and administered with parents' consent. We have emergency medical facilities to use in the event of medical eventualities. Basic First Aid treatment is given by a registered nurse on the premises. Major cases are taken to Eugene Marais Hospital or Pretoria Academic for emergency treatment with parents consent.

School Setup

Therapists

The Alma therapy team consists of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. We adopt a holistic team approach and learners are always managed within the team (Physio, OT, Teacher, Nurse, Grade HOD) to ensure optimal development of the child. The parent and/or relevant doctors form part of the extended team. It is for this reason that the therapists are responsible for the admission assessment of learners applying for space at Alma School. Human resources, space and time is limited, and individual therapy is seldom offered. Our therapists, however, work on time tables and use their discretion to prioritize and plan for individual and/or group sessions. The therapists consult with teachers on a regular basis to ensure therapy is optimized and class recommendations are followed through. Staff in-service training, parent evening talks and taxi-driver training sessions are arranged regularly. Twice a year, all therapists are involved in the corrective seating of all the school’s learners in the classrooms. In addition, some therapists (OT and Physio) focus on ensuring that learners who are in wheelchairs, are seated optimally to reduce the risks of contractures and pressure sores. All Therapists are involved in whole school development and is thus required to perform additional tasks such as: fundraising, coaching sports, being bus representatives, doing community outreach, assist with disability awareness campaigns etc. • Physiotherapy Alma School has physiotherapists that oversee, manage and treat our physically disabled learners in small groups and/or for individual therapy. Therapy is aimed at muscle strengthening, maintaining and facilitating normal development, coordination, balance, muscle tone, range of movement, posture and lung function. Assistive/Mobility devices are provided by the school, for use during school, to learners who require them. Each assistive/mobility device fits the needs of the child. This promotes effective participation in the classroom and other school activities. The Physiotherapists assist with post- operative intervention, rehabilitation and parental guidance and will work with the doctors on recommendations and consultations where possible. The Physiotherapists also oversee an Orthopaedic outreach clinic from Steve Biko held once or twice a term. Alma School Physiotherapy Department also supervises the University of Pretoria 4th year Physiotherapy Student’s Paediatric Neurology Clinical Practical’s. • Occupational Therapy Alma School has Occupational Therapists and each therapist works in a specifically allocated Grade based on experience and expertise. Therapy differs slightly within the Grades and in brief includes (but are not limited to) the following: • Support Grade: Therapy is aimed at equipping and supporting the teacher with individualized support for learners using AAC methods, differentiating curriculum outcomes, sensory modulation strategies, behaviour modification and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade R: Therapy is focused on sensory stimulation and the facilitation of normal development (e.g. mastery of major milestones, development of gross motor skills, development of ADL skills, etc.) Therapy is mostly presented in groups and where needed, the therapist also assists the teacher to individualize support plans for learners. The therapist is also involved in behaviour modification strategies and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade 1-3: Therapy is now mostly focused on the facilitation of perceptual development, but refinement of the Stimulation Grade’s outcomes is still taking place. Therapy is still mostly presented in groups and where needed, the therapist assists the teacher to individualize support plans for learners. The therapist stays also involved in behaviour modification strategies and allocating appropriate assistive devices. • Grade 4 & 5: In these Grades, the focus of therapy shifts towards preparing the learners to integrate into society after school. The therapists focus mostly on the development of independence and appropriate social skills. The few who might be able to enter the labour market (sheltered or protected) are prepared as best possible (e.g. through work simulation and encouraging good work habits and work ethics). The outcomes of all the previous Grades are considered when making recommendations regarding a life after school. In the year that the child turns 16, the therapists facilitates the communication process regarding future planning and parents are encouraged to visit different placement options for their child. The therapists have individual consultations and give parental guidance where needed. Due to the challenges that the teenage years present, the therapists often provide individual counselling and/or play therapy sessions to help learners understand and deal with aspects such as difficult emotions, managing conflict, basic problem solving and also dealing with concerns about their future. The therapists stay involved in behaviour modification strategies and ensure appropriate assistive devices are available and used.

Clinic

School Professional Nurse • Sr Priscilla Bezuidenhout • Sr Pride Skosana Job purpose: • Medical care of learners and supervising staff in medical and related matters. Aim / Objective: • Manage medical and related matters in an effective and functional way, at the school. • Supervising medical matters. • Care for the medical needs of the learners. • Serve as member of the professional team. • Training staff. Medical Knowledge In Dealing With: • Epilepsy. • Medical emergencies in general. • Control of medication. Ability to function within a professional team and to take responsibility for medical matters. • Advise the staff and parents. • Observation of the medical condition of learners and report to the doctors. Training Of Staff Members In: • First Aid • HIV/AIDS • Epileptic fits / Emergencies • Cross infection • Hygiene • Medical regulations and policies Medicine: • Chronic Medicine is given out to learners on request of parents as prescribed • by child's medical practitioner or clinic and recorded. • On written request, acute medication supplied by parents is given at school and recorded. • Emergency medicine: very basic medicine is kept at school and administered with parents' consent. We have emergency medical facilities to use in the event of medical eventualities. Basic First Aid treatment is given by a registered nurse on the premises. Major cases are taken to Eugene Marais Hospital or Pretoria Academic for emergency treatment with parents consent.