THE SMART CLUB
FACILITATING LEARNING
Beyond hunger, some learners experience further barriers to learning. Some of these include various visual or hearing deficits, or dyslexia and various language difficulties. The latter include those associated with autism; motor coordination or perceptual difficulties; or those who experience emotional disturbance associated with the trauma of abuse. In August 2017, a dedicated donation enabled us to start up our Smart Club in order to realise our aim to support learners who experience specific learning barriers in the classroom as a result of some of the above-mentioned difficulties.
Our aim is to fill the educational gaps. In many cases learning difficulties are undetected, and not addressed. Since the forced lock down of schools during the Covid pandemic, these difficulties have become a huge hindrance to children keeping up with accessing learning in the classroom. Our Smart Club operates at both Good Hope Seminary Junior and St Mary’s Primary Schools, and will expand to support needy learners in further Cape Peninsula primary schools as funding allows.
Here are some of the areas in which we have assisted struggling learners. Unfortunately, funding levels may adversely affect our ability to offer these services on a regular basis:
Eye and hearing tests
Occupational and Speech and Language Therapy assessments and follow-up treatment sessions.
Play Therapy or Counselling for children traumatized by violence or loss
Assessments by a Paediatric Neurologist or Psychiatrist in cases of suspected Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without hyperactivity) or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Diagnosis of dyslexia by an experienced Educational Psychologist
Qualified Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Specialised Learning Support in English and Maths.
To date, The Smart Club, has year on year, other than during the Covid related school closures, helped hundreds of learners who experience specific barriers to learners. Our areas of support have changed and grown to accommodate the needs we have encountered. Below read more detail on how we have made and continue to make an enormous difference.
A registered Occupational Therapist has assessed and treated, on a 1 to 1 basis, learners with motor-coordination, spatial and proprioception difficulties, improving focus in class, confidence in organisation, handwriting and sport.
Group brain gym and motor-coordination skills are developed by larger Gr R and Gr 1 groups, working with a retired Occupational Therapist. Increased focus in class, ability to follow instructions and motor-coordination necessary for early learning have been hugely beneficial.
A registered Speech Therapist has assessed and treated learners who struggle with enunciation, phonics, language structures and confidence in communication with peers or educators. She works 1 to 1 with learners, or in pairs as appropriate.
She has also worked patiently with children experiencing optional mutism, as well as with a boy locked into echolalia caused by autistic spectrum disorder, whom we had assessed and diagnosed by a specialist practitioner. He now has some spontaneous speech, can read, and has been moved successfully to be taught in a specialist school for neurodivergent children. His family have expressed enormous gratitude for the counselling which enabled them to understand and communicate with this young boy.
Our Speech Therapist is also a qualified and experienced Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and helps numerous learners whose home languages range from Portuguese, Swahili, isiXhosa or Tswana. Confidence in spoken communication has brought leadership abilities to the fore: TEFL learners have become able to assist other learners with language acquisition; have become Gr 7 school monitors or have taken on helping with Breakfast Club.
We have paid for brain scans carried out under deep sedation required by a specialist to investigate neurological difficulties, and resulting in correct diagnoses and medications being prescribed for children who have benefitted enormously.
Numerous children’s eyesight and hearing have been checked and treated as necessary.
Reading Enrichment groups for Gr 4 and 5 were started by a retired educator in 2023, and continue as confidence in reading, and understanding has improved.
A Paediatric Psychiatrist has diagnosed Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder in 8 young children over the past 7 years, and their subsequent controlled use of medication has enabled them to concentrate and learn far better.
We benefit from an arrangement with the School Nurse and Doctor at District Six Day Clinic, whereby free medication such a Ritalin or Methylphendate is supplied to our learners with ADHD.
A LETTER FROM A STUDENT'S PARENT
“I am very happy because it seems as if things are going well and we are looking forward to working with you. Thank you very much for your efforts and pushing us, explaining to us exactly how the medication works and why we need it [Ritalin]. Where we are from, these types of medications are still seen as a taboo so we just want to say thank you again for supporting and helping us.”
A transcribed voice message from the father of a grade two pupil, thanking the Good Start Trust for supporting them in obtaining the proper medications to ensure his child can reach their fullest academic potential.
Our present funding will only stretch so far. Help us to ensure the ongoing work of The Smart Club and help growing minds by donating to The Good sStart Trust.