Making the decision to enrol your child in one of the many remedial schools
Making the decision to enrol your child in one of many remedial schools available for consideration can be a daunting prospect. Whether your child is just beginning their schooling journey, or the recommendation has been made to move from a mainstream school, researching these remedial schools is a necessity in order to find just the right fit for your child and family.
Remedial schools have become more prevalent in recent years, as there is a definite need for them, and there are many benefits to the education received at remedial schools: the classroom sizes tend to be smaller, allowing for the individual attention your child may require; the curriculum is generally adapted in order to allow your child to work at his or her own pace, and at a level of difficulty that he or she can understand; the basic education skills are specifically targeted, such as reading and math literacy, which form the core knowledge needed to progress through the grades, and by bolstering these skills, a child may become more able to learn complex academic material.
There are also common concerns that arise when considering enrolment into remedial schools: sometimes the adapted curriculum does not allow for a child to expand their knowledge, and fully reach their academic potential; occasionally it can be difficult for children in remedial schools to make the jump into a mainstream school, as the environment (and workload) can be very different; some parents are concerned that their children may begin to imitate inappropriate behaviours demonstrated by other peers within the remedial schools’ classrooms.
Many mainstream schools have now begun to make use of “bridging classes,” where a child who is struggling academically can be moved to a smaller classroom environment for those specific lessons identified as “difficult.” These bridging classes have helped to incorporate techniques used by remedial schools, but within the mainstream school environment. Some children thrive within these smaller bridging classes, while some may continue to struggle, and are then the recommendation to look at remedial schools is given.
The Catch Up Kids programme aims to help these children requiring the one-on-one attention, and aid them in building up the core skills necessary for success in the classroom. Catch Up Kids instructors are specially trained in order to deliver individualised lessons to your child, that will specifically build up the areas of academic concern, as well as many other skills that may be holding your child back from learning in the classroom environment (for example, memory, ability to follow instructions, and the ability to sustain attention to a task). When looking at remedial schools, Catch Up Kids should be your first port of call as we may be able to bridge the gaps without removing your child from a mainstream classroom, increase the speed at which they are prepared for the move to a mainstream school, or help them reach their potential within any remedial schools.
The decision about remedial schools will be different for every family, and it is important to look at all options – having an assessment done by Catch Up Kids may open up a few more options for your child, and the more choices available, the better chances you have of finding the ideal fit.
Rebecca van Wyngaard
