The Eduplex Pre-Primary School

Academic programme

The academic programme is being monitored and improved regularly in order to keep abreast with international best educational practice. Children are divided into smaller groups to identify ability and evaluate progress. Learning content is presented in a thematic approach (on a rotation basis). At each level there is an English and an Afrikaans class and children from both languages mix with each other out of class during playing and are therefore exposed to a second language incidentally.

One qualified teacher and one qualified teacher/classroom assistant for each class ensures:

• High staff-pupil ratio
• Differentiation for different academic ability
• Sufficient time to assess the individual needs of each child and to plan programmes accordingly
• Individual conversation sessions for hearing impaired children whose language development is not age appropriate
• Time for differentiated tutorial lessons
• Small group teaching

Time for teachers to interact in play situations and thereby widen the children's linguistic experiences

Developing listening skills (the auditory element)

The Eduplex places tremendous importance on the development of good listening skills. It provides the opportunity for children, not only to listen, but also to express ideas in an environment in which others will listen to them.

The Eduplex follows the Natural Auditory Oral Approach under the guidance of an international consultant. Daily periods of individual conversation ensure that the teachers are aware of the level of each child.

The Natural Auditory Oral Approach has been adopted in many countries worldwide and, wherever it has been implemented fully, a rich linguistically orientated programme has developed.

The design of the Eduplex and the programmes planned also offer an ideal situation for children with a hearing loss. A number of places are reserved for children but the proportion will not exceed that of four normally hearing children to one hearing impaired child the bench mark (no more than six deaf children in a class).

Extra curricular activities

The children are part of a holistic programme. This allows for the development of both skills and creativity during the school day. For parents who wish their children to participate in extra activities, there is a variety of options e.g. ballet, action ball, computer classes, and so on.

For further information please e-mail Bernadette Roodt, Vice-principal responsible for the pre-school