Curro Holdings, the JSE-listed independent education provider, is launching its Curro Learner Support Unit (CLSU). The unit aims to make inclusive education a reality within the group. The CLSU will support teaching professionals, parents and learners in understanding neurodiversity and embracing research findings on barriers to learning and development. It will also inform best teaching and classroom practices for learners with academic and behaviour challenges within the Curro Group.
“Previously, learner support has not been coordinated within Curro. It has relied heavily on the expertise of the teacher, the Head of Department (HOD) or the head of the school,” says Johan van Lill, CLSU project coordinator. “Teachers need training and assistance on how to manage and work with learners with barriers to learning and developmental challenges, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia or executive function challenges.”
Concept of the CLSU
The concept of the CLSU has emerged from important questions being asked within the Curro community. Questions asked such as how to accommodate learners with barriers to learning and development to thrive in the academic setting, and what the essential features of an inclusive learning environment are as opposed to traditional classroom spaces.
The CLSU hopes to help provide answers to these questions. It will consist of various communication channels for teachers, parents and learners to use, as well as relying on technology solutions to reduce workload for staff.
Piloted at Curro Uitzicht
Van Lill says that the CLSU is currently being piloted at Curro Uitzicht. It will be rolled out to all the schools in the group in a three-year phased approach. “We are focusing on four steps: awareness, professional development, implementation and research. The starting point is demystifying inclusive education for everyone involved. It will include our teachers and staff, parents and learners. We’ll then offer training and support for staff and parents on accommodating learning challenges. Then we will work with teachers to implement strategies to develop the academic and executive functioning skills learners require to be successful in school, as well as in their tertiary studies and future careers. We will also continue to conduct research on the latest trends, methodologies and technology solutions to support inclusive education in our schools. Importantly, we will evaluate the CLSU’s impact over time so that we can adapt as required.”
Curro envisions the CLSU being able to assist with other focus areas such as parent support groups, creating synergy between the multidisciplinary practitioners already working within Curro schools such as therapists, psychologists and counsellors, and designing instruments for early detection of learning challenges.
“Inclusive learning and teaching is about understanding and respecting that people are diverse and experience different challenges and barriers to learning, and working to enable all learners to access an education in a way that helps them to overcome those challenges,” says Van Lill. “We believe that the development of the CLSU is an important milestone in Curro’s inclusive education journey. It will help us to accommodate more learners in a mainstream schooling environment and help them to flourish and reach their potential.”
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