DR RADICA MAHASE

“I was so happy when I found a school that was willing to take my son. He’s seven years old and he’s non-verbal and he has not been in a school for more than two years. So, when I found this school and they said they would take him, my prayers were answered.

"After one week the principal said that they couldn’t handle him, that the teachers found he was disruptive and he won’t sit and do his work. This school advertised as a school for autistic children and those with learning disabilities, and when I registered him, I told them he was non-verbal and they were okay with that. So, imagine my disappointment. Even worse, they said they can only refund me the deposit. We paid for a month – and it wasn’t cheap, it was $1,500, they decided they couldn’t work with him and they can’t refund us because apparently that is not their policy.”

Since the start of the new academic year there have been a proliferation of new, private schools catering to children with special needs. On one hand, this is a good thing because it means that parents now have options available, especially in more rural areas where educational opportunities were extremely limited when public schools refused to accept children with special needs. On the other hand, there are no systems in place to regulate these private school. Consequently, qualification and experience of teachers vary immensely and fees can range anywhere from $300 to $2,500 a month. At the same time, these private schools might be able to provide a more individualised education as there are no regulations over curriculum and no standardised testing.

As desperate as parents may be to find a school for their children, they still need to choose an environment that is safe and comfortable, where the child will be understood and accepted.

Here’re some rough guidelines for parents who are currently looking to enrol their children in a private school:

Visit the school with your child – It is important that your child is comfortable in the space. Organise an introductory visit to the school so that both you and the child can get a tour of the school. Walk through the space and pay attention to your child’s reaction.

Pay special attention to security – This is especially important if your child has a history of walking around or is a runner. Is it a gated compound? Will the gate be kept closed at all times? Where are the emergency exits? Is there a safe space for your child to move around – especially important if the child is hyperactive.

Quality of special-needs education available at the school – does the school cater to the four areas of special needs education:

* Communication and interaction – If my child is non-verbal will they be able to communicate with him/her? Will the teachers understand my child?

* Cognition and learning – What are the school’s plans for teaching my child? Will they use a variety of teaching methods? Will they make learning fun and interesting so th