THE DREAMTREE SCHOOL ADMISSION

Admission Process

We understand that school placement is a very important and potentially stressful transition for a child with ASD and his/her parents. We shall do our best to accommodate the needs of each unique family, throughout the admission process.

The process involves a series of conversations with the parents; discussions with involved therapists; studying of recent reports; observations of the learner and a trial period of two weeks at The DreamTree School.

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Admission Requirements

The DreamTree School makes provision for learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated Neuro-Developmental Disorders.  This spectrum indicates that, despite the existence of common core features, different subgroups of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder present their own pattern of symptoms.  The school admits the following sub-groups:

• Autism
• Asperger’s Syndrome
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified) PDD (NOS).

Criteria as set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, Text Revised, (DSM-IV-TR, -2004) are used to establish whether a learner is on the spectrum. An official diagnosis of ASD should be made by a Developmental Paediatrician, Paediatric Neurologist, Child Psychiatrist or an informed Child Psychologist.

In the case of a child having an associated Neuro-Developmental Disorder, autistic traits must be the dominant features in the child’s profile. Extra measures will be taken to determine if the child will benefit from a placement at The DreamTree School.

Additional requirements:

1. The learner should be able to or have the potential to function within a group setting.
2. The learner should be between the ages of 5 and 12.
3. The main official language of the school is English.
4. All learners should be toilet-trained and have the potential to learn the basic self-help skills.
5. A learner with a mild physical disability will be considered depending on the level of support he/she needs to function in the group setting.
6. Assessment reports are needed from a Psychologist/Psychiatrist, Speech and Occupational Therapist done in the past 12months.
7. Observation period of a minimum of two weeks. A once off Observation Fee of R1 500.00 is payable into The DreamTree account prior to the commencement of the Observation period.
8. The parent/legal guardian agrees to pay the school the school fee as determined by the Governing Body of the school.
9. Parents might be requested to consider giving consent to private therapies if this is advised by the school.

The parents will receive written notification of the admission if their child has been accepted into The DreamTree School.  Admission is always conditional upon the applicant still meeting all admission requirements at the end of each year.

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Classroom Structure

We are happy to inform you that we have now 2 classes up and running.

Junior Class
Ages 6 to 9 years
Focusing on Foundation Phase education

Senior Class
Ages 10 to 13 years
Focusing on Life Skills and Functional Academics that includes daily living activities as well as Literacy and Mathematics needed for adult life.

2014 Preparatory class
Ages 5 to 6 years
We are looking forward to expanding our school to include this younger group.

Please contact Janet du Bois for further information.
(021) 8422883
+27 (0) 82 444 6870
info@thedreamtreeschool.co.za

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