Occupational Therapy / Arbeidsterapie – Prospectus Novus School
Occupational Therapists working at Prospectus Novus School 2016:
Christina van der Schyff – Head of Department
Louise le Roux Therapist
Charmaine Ingwane Therapist
Anastacia Wathen Therapist
Denise Griesel Therapist
Sumarie du Toit Therapist
The following aspects are evaluated and treated by the Occupational Therapist:
Problems with visual perceptual skills
Visual-motor co-ordination problems, including weak pencil grip and control, weak / slow writing.
Slow motor speed.
Poor posture and low muscle tone.
Poor balance and equilibrium reactions.
Poor physical endurance.
Gravitational insecurity – insecure on heights and moving surfaces.
Poor gross and fine co-ordination.
Bilateral Integration – the two halves of the body are not used in an integrated fashion.
Poor midline crossing, adjusts the body and the book to be able to cross the midline.
Poor letter and number recognition and formation.
Sensory Integration problems – 3 of the Occupational Therapists are SI qualified / 3 has SI experience.
The above mentioned aspects, all of which are very important for sufficient scholastic progress, are addressed by the therapist.
If possible all learners from Grade 1 – 3, in need of therapy as well as all new learners in Grade 1 – 3, are accepted for therapy. Parents of all Grade 4 learners can attend a study method workshop at the beginning of each year.
A therapy session lasts one period of 30 minutes. One to two individual therapy sessions per week are presented.
The number of therapy sessions per week will depend on the seriousness of the learner’s disabilities and also on the number of learners taken for therapy in total.
Learners from Grade 1 – 3 are taken in groups
The following groups are presented: Sensory Integration groups, Perception groups, Gross motor groups and Fine motor groups.
Groups consist of 2-3 learners
Groups receive therapy once a week
All learners Grade 1-3 receive two consecutive periods of class therapy per week
The following groups are presented:
Functional skills groups which could include domestic, self care and craft groups.
Our duties as Occupational Therapists at Prospectus Novus include the following:
Evaluations – formal and informal evaluations of new and current learners in the school.
Therapy – individual and group therapy. Treatment groups include:
Neuro Development Theory
Visual perception therapy
Group therapy and group managing techniques
School related worksheets
Parental guidance and interactions are of the utmost importance
Team discussions and IEP’s – we form part of the inter-disciplinary team and participate in the formulation of the IEP’s
Since November 2012 Mimio-Teach interactive boards were installed in each therapist office. This systems possibilities are never ending through which the learners are actively involved in the latest technology.
Prospectus Novus School was selected as a Resource Centre to assist and aid teachers and learners of 5 full service schools. The staff are actively involved in lectures presented to teachers of the full service schools. Topics presented by this department include:
Sensor integration in the classroom
Alert programme – Theory of self-regulation.
A workshop for the parents of Grade 4 learners is presented each year to empower parents concerning study methods. Themes include information regarding:
Understanding exam papers
We are part of the general activities at the school like playground duties, coaching sport activities eg. soccer and athletics. We are also involved with extra classes to learners.
During October each year a week is spend to promote eye care awareness to the learners.
Once a year an optometrist spend 3 days at the school to screen new learner’s eyes. Appropriate referrals are done for follow up eye tests.
Die volgende aspekte word deur die Arbeidsterapeut geëvalueer en aangespreek tydens terapie:
Uitvalle t.o.v. visuele perseptuele vaardighede
Visueel-motoriese koördinasie uitvalle. Dit sluit in swak potloodgreep en –beheer, swak en stadige skrif
Stadige motoriese spoed
Swak postuur met verlaagde spiertonus
Swak balans- en ekwilibriumreaksies
Swak fisiese uithouvermoë
Swak growwe en fyn koördinasie
Bilaterale Integrasie – gebruik nie die twee liggaamshelftes geïntegreerd nie
Midlynkruising – kruis nie die midlyn nie, maar pas die lyf en die boek aan om die midlyn te kruis
Swak letter- en syferherkenning en swak letter- en syfervorming
Sensoriese Integrasie uitvalle – verskeie van die Arbeidsterapeute het Sensoriese Integrasie kwalifikasies en / of ervaring
Die terapeut skenk aandag aan al hierdie onderliggende vaardighede wat belangrik is
om skolasties te kan vorder.
WIE ONTVANG ARBEIDSTERAPIE?
Indien moontlik, word alle leerders van Graad 1-3, wat terapie benodig, sowel as alle nuwe leerders, in Graad 1-3, vir terapie geneem.
‘n Terapiesessie duur vir een periode van 30 minute elk. Een tot twee
individuele terapiesessies per week word aangebied afhangende van die tipe
uitvalle, asook van die hoeveelheid kinders wat in totaal vir terapie geneem
Leerders van Graad 2-3 word in groepe geneem
Die volgende groepe word gehou: sensoriese integrasiegroepe,
persepsie groepe, grof-motoriese groepe en fyn-motoriese groepe
Groepe bestaan uit 2-3 leerders
Die groepe vind een keer per week plaas
Alle leerders van Graad 1-3 ontvang twee aaneenlopende periodes klasterapie
Die volgende groepe word gehou:
Grof motoriese groepe
Fyn motoriese groepe
Funksionele vaardigheidsgroepe. temas vir die funksionele vaardigheidsgroepe sluit in: huishoudelik (kook-en-bak), selfversorging en handvaardigheid.
Wat doen die Arbeidsterapeut by Prospectus Novus?
Evaluerings – formeel en informeel
Terapie: individueel, groepsterapie, klasterapieTerapie sluit o.a. in:
Visuele Persepsie terapie
Groepsterapie en groephanteringstegnieke
Ouereleiding en kontak
Spanbesprekings en Individuele Opvoedingsplan (IEP)
Die skool is as ‘n “Resource Centre” geidentifiseer. Die Arbeidsterapeute bied lesings aan 5 “Full service Schools” ten einde die onderwysers in klasverband te ondersteun. Onderwerpe wat aangebied word is o.a.
Sensoriese integrasie in die klaskamer
Alert profgram: Teorie van selfregulasie
Basiese beginsels van handskrif
‘n Werkswinkel vir die Graad 4 ouers word jaarliks aangebied om die ouers te bemagtig m.b.t. studiemetodes. temas wat hanteer word is:
Ken jou kind beter
Jou kind se leerstyl
Hoe om vraestelle te lees en te beantwoord
Arbeidsterapie is deel van die algemne skoolaktiwiteite soos speelgronddiens, beamptes en afrigting van sport, soos atletiek en sokker. Hulp word ook verleen met ekstra klasse.
In Oktober elke jaar word ‘n week gebruik om oogsorgbewustheid aan die leerders aan te moedig.
Een keer ‘n jaar doen ‘n oogkundige oogsifting en die nodige verwysings word gedoen.