Additional support is set to arrive in 2024 for parents of neurodiverse children and children requiring more assistance than what they can access in mainstream schools, with the announcement of a new assisted learning school opening its doors in Joburg in January 2024.
The Bridge Assisted Learning School based in Lonehill responded to the huge demand in this educational niche in 2018 when the doors of the first campus opened. In January, a second campus in Morningside, Sandton, will follow.
“There has been tremendous growth in the number of children of above average intelligence, but who, for various reasons, are not suited for a mainstream school environment. Because of this growing need, and to increase access for more students and parents who require specialised support, we are delighted to announce the opening of our new campus,” says Chris Van Niekerk, Managing director of The Bridge Assisted Learning Schools, which is part of the ADvTECH Group, SA’s leading private education provider.
The Bridge caters to students who face certain learning barriers and social or emotional challenges. Typically, these children can’t be adequately catered for in either mainstream or special needs schools. So, for children with average to above average ability, whose learning is impacted by challenges such as ADHD, dyslexia, mild autism, and anxiety, or children who have been through illness or trauma which has affected their scholastic progress, The Bridge has been a lifeline. A neurodiverse approach is followed at The Bridge, ensuring that all students are included and catered for and receive the additional support they require.
“Many children of average and above-average intelligence face these kinds of challenges and require an environment with an understanding of and response to neurodiversity. Most, if not all, mainstream schools are simply not in a position to provide the focused yet holistic support these learners require to perform to the best of their ability and become confident, empowered and self-actualised,” Van Niekerk says.
The Bridge Morningside will build on the successful model established by its sister school, and children will reap the benefits of small classes, an individualised learning approach and therapeutic programmes to address the challenges that kept them from succeeding and thriving in mainstream schools. The new campus will also focus heavily on calming aesthetics in a tranquil environment.
“Neurodiverse conditions don’t simply go away at the end of Grade 7. That is why it was important for us to extend our offering into High School, providing these high school students with the opportunity to write the normal IEB matric exit exams while assisting them holistically along the way,” Van Niekerk says.
He says parents often fear that the future prospects of their children will be limited when they stay in an assisted learning environment, but that simply is not the case at The Bridge.
“At The Bridge, we offer our students the kickstart they need to get them through to Matric and set them on a path into tertiary studies at a university, college or other further studies. Alternatively, students can also move on after completing their IEB matric with us to pursue their own path.”
The Bridge Morningside will welcome students from Grade R to Grade 4, as well as Grade 8s from January 2024. Further Grades will be phased in in subsequent years as students progress.
Interested parents may visit www.thebridgeschool.co.za or attend one of the monthly Open Days. The new campus is scheduled for completion by December 2023.
