In an era driven by technology and data, the educational landscape is rapidly evolving. Traditional teaching methods are yielding to online, self-directed, and blended learning, emphasising the importance of adaptability. While adeptness with technology is important, the role of support services at schools for a student’s success cannot be overstated.
Schools such as Crawford International, stand out not only for their academic excellence but also their holistic approach to student development. By offering on-campus access to various support services, they go beyond conventional education.
The availability of support services at school such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Educational Psychologists marks a significant step towards revolutionising education. By offering early intervention and personalised support:
- schools empower students to overcome exceptionalities,
- teachers implement effective teaching and learning strategies and
- parents actively engage in their child’s development and learning journey.
Benefits of support services at schools
This proactive strategy identifies students with exceptionalities early and empowers teachers, administrators, and parents to collaboratively guide each student’s personalised journey of growth.
There are 6 known benefits of these support services at schools, to name a few:
1. Early Detection of Students with Exceptionalities
Early childhood is a time of great potential for cognitive, social, and emotional development. With the right support, children can grow up to be healthy, happy, and successful. The presence of allied health professionals such as Educational Psychologists at primary school level allows for the timely identification of exceptionalities that include communicational, behavioural, intellectual, or multiple.
With their expertise, these professionals can assist teachers and parents with comprehensive tools to pinpoint any potential exceptionalities a child might face in their academic journey. By detecting such exceptionalities at an early stage, teachers can tailor and personalise teaching strategies to suit individual needs, fostering a more inclusive learning environment that accommodates diverse learning styles.
2. Customised Interventions for Optimal Learning
Occupational and Speech Therapists play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s learning experience:
- Occupational Therapists assist in enhancing fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and self-regulation.
- Speech Therapists, on the other hand, focus on refining communication skills, articulation, and language development.
Having these support services at school means they can work directly with students to provide personalised interventions that address specific developmental needs. This not only accelerates progress but also boosts the student’s self-confidence, allowing them to actively engage in the learning process.
Thersia Rossouw, Academic Development Coordinator at Crawford International shares, “At our schools, the teacher will usually refer a student to a specialist. The teacher’s observations are used by the specialist as part of the process to identify an individual student’s specific exceptionality. This already commences in the early years, and it is a process that continues, if need be, until Matric.”
3. Holistic Approach to Student Well-being
At the heart of the educational ecosystem, Educational Psychologists wield extraordinary influence in guiding students through the complex landscape of social and emotional challenges. They are like guides, helping students deal with feelings and friendships. By tackling these feelings, students learn how to handle stress, make good friends, and keep their minds happy.
This manner of support doesn’t just boost their academics, it also helps children grow as confident individuals, ready to tackle school. This holistic approach to education encourages an environment where students’ emotional needs are met, enabling them to thrive both academically and personally.
4. Empowering Educators and the School Community with Knowledge
The presence of support services at schools extends beyond benefiting students. Teachers gain valuable insights and refined methodologies to cater to the diverse needs of their students. The administrative staff, parents and the school’s community at large also attain knowledge by being more aware and sensitive when dealing with diverse students.
By collaborating with Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, and Educational Psychologists teachers can implement effective teaching methods that create an inclusive learning environment. Equipped with a deeper understanding of each student’s strengths and exceptionalities, with this kind of knowledge teachers are better resourced to enable an atmosphere of acceptance, adaptability, and growth.
5. Strengthening Parent-Teacher Partnerships
With on-campus support services at schools, parents are provided with a unique opportunity to actively participate in their child’s developmental journey. This element of partnership drives the personalised learning journey that Crawford International advocates for; because regular interactions with allied health professionals enable parents to gain a comprehensive understanding of their child’s progress and areas of improvement.
Through open communication channels such as Toddle – an inhouse communication platform used at Crawford International, parents can work closely with teachers and support staff to implement consistent strategies at home, ensuring a unified approach to a child’s development.
Debra Schaus a Learning Specialist emphasises that, “It’s vital to understand that referral to specialists in respective fields is not “passing the buck,” but rather accessing the expertise of professionals who can provide targeted interventions. These trained specialists work together with parents and teachers, fostering a collaborative approach towards a child’s development.”
6. Lifelong Impact
Early intervention is a cornerstone of long-term success. Identifying and addressing learning exceptionalities during a child’s formative years has a ripple effect on their entire academic and personal development.
When challenges are met head-on, children are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards learning, enhancing their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. These qualities not only shape their educational journey but also prepare them for a lifetime of overcoming obstacles with resilience and an open mind.
Make a Change Now!
As the positive impact of these support services at school resonates across all in the schools’ community, it becomes clear that investing in a school that offers comprehensive support services is an investment in the brighter future of our children.
Find out how Crawford International offers support services at school by booking a tour now
Visit Crawford International or a school near you:
Crawford International Bryanston
Crawford International Fourways
Crawford International Lonehill
Crawford International Pretoria
Crawford International Ruimsig
Crawford International Sandton
Branches in Kwazulu Natal
Crawford International La Lucia
Crawford International North Coast
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