Is a remedial school the correct choice for my child?
Is a remedial school the correct choice for my child?
If your child is having difficulty in school, you may be considering sending your child to a remedial school. These difficulties may include learning disabilities or difficulties, problems coping with the work-load or even emotional or social difficulties. Before you make the big decision you will want a lot more information so that you know you are making the correct decision for your child.
The advantages of mainstream schooling are that your child will be educated, as well as socialising and modelling, with children who are at the average level for their age. If your child is having difficulties it is possible that they need extra support outside of school to help them keep up, or possibly even a change of school as opposed to a move to remedial. It is important to remember that just because your child is fully capable of handling a mainstream environment, doesn’t mean that the school, or even class, that they are in is right for them. The guidance of professionals can be valuable in guiding this decision.
If your child needs a higher level of support than what can be provided within a mainstream environment then it may be time to consider a remedial school. In South Africa there are different levels of remedial school, offering varied curriculums as well as levels of support and making the decision of where to put your child depends strongly on their needs. A child who needs a lower level of support will not be reasonably stimulated in an environment where the pace is too slow, however a child who needs more one-on-one support may find the pacing of a bigger or fast-moving class too difficult and fail to make progress. Many schools offer extra support such as OT, speech therapy and play therapy and these support systems should also be considered when making your decision as support from within the school may be more advantageous than outside support as the therapists within the school are familiar with the child’s school environment.
Catch-Up kids can support your child no matter what decision you make. We have experience supporting children who are having difficulty within the mainstream environment and have helped them keep up with their classmates, as well as helped them get the most out of their remedial school. We have strong relationships with many schools and can facilitate during school hours as well as give support after hours in the form of specialised programmes designed to help your child with their specific areas of need. We stay in contact with the school and teacher to ensure that we are staying on top of your child’s needs so that they make the most possible progress no matter what level of schooling they are at.
