Integrated Therapy
We are delighted that you are considering joining our vibrant and inclusive community!
Overview
Orion College offers an integrated therapy service comprising of a dynamic and passionate multi-disciplinary team. Orion College has a dedicated department of full-time therapists who collaborate very closely with the academic staff and parents to assess and monitor the progress of our learners and offer appropriate support interventions.
All therapies are aimed at supporting academic learning in order for each child to achieve their full potential. Therapies are provided on a needs basis, determined by formal assessment findings, classroom observations, referrals, and clinical judgment. These services are included in the school fees, and each learner will receive a different package of care based on his/her individual needs.
SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT TEAM and THERAPY DEPARTMENT
‘THE TEAM AROUND EACH CHILD’
What sets Orion apart is our age-appropriate, integrated approach to therapy and support and our
TEAM AROUND EACH CHILD.
Our multidisciplinary School- Based Support Team (SBST), is made up of a team of specialist therapists and teachers working together to identify and support the needs of each of our unique learners.
The primary purpose of the SBST is to determine the support interventions required to support learners in their educational journey, through the provision of therapeutic, academic, social or emotional support.
Our team of therapists is responsible for the delivery of specific group and individual therapeutic interventions.
The SBST is particularly relevant when a learner is identified as being ‘at-risk’ of failing.
At Orion, all therapeutic and academic support provided, is included in the school fees, at no additional cost to parents.
Educational Psychology Support
Orion College has two dedicated Educational Psychologists that work across the Primary and High School. Both psychologists are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and adhere to the ethical guidelines stipulated by them. They work from predominantly a Systemic Framework and incorporate appropriate therapeutic techniques and interventions to cater for the diverse needs of the learners of Orion College.
There is a referral process involved for when intervention is required:
At the beginning of the year a blanket consent form is sent out to all parents for them to sign for them to grant permission for the psychologists to work with their child/ren.
Either the parent/guardian or the teacher can refer to the psychologist when a concern arises. An appointment can be made with the psychologist to discuss the concerns further or an email requesting therapy can be sent directly. The learner can also request therapy.If parental consent has been obtained and all parties are satisfied for therapy to commence, then the child will receive a regular slot which will be agreed upon with everyone.
The Educational Psychologists offer the following services:
Play Therapy
Children express themselves through play, a natural activity for them. Emotional difficulties can often be symbolically represented through play, therefore, play therapy allows for the exploration of this. The aim of the psychologist would be to facilitate growth as the child works through his or her difficulties. A variety of techniques can be used during play therapy. The psychologists at Orion College try to work with what the child brings to the therapeutic space and also incorporate his or her interests.
Individual Therapy
As children get older, the time spent playing decreases. Therefore, play therapy will not be relevant anymore, particularly to adolescents. The aim with older children and adolescents is to offer guidance through difficulties that they may experience through an individual therapeutic process. This may involve talk therapy and other techniques, such as psycho-education.
Group Therapy
Should a common issue or difficulty be identified among a group of similar learners, then group therapy may be used to address this. This process often fosters feelings of support, encouragement, and understanding.
Parent Guidance and Support
Having a child with challenges can also take its toll on our parents and parent support and guidance is an important part of intervention. The focus of this is to support parents through the challenges that come with parenting and offer guidance in terms of effective strategies.
Assessments
Assessments are an important aspect which assist us in understanding your child better and what his/her learning needs are. These also help us determine a learner’s strengths, areas of development, and what support interventions may be beneficial. Consent is obtained for each assessment the learner is subjected too. Consent forms are sent home with the learner for parents to sign and send back.
Psycho-Educational Assessments are administered when a new learner visits the school and thereafter every two years or once during a phase of schooling. Encompassed in these assessments are measures of cognitive, scholastic, perceptual, and social-emotional functioning. The purpose of continuous reassessment is to track the learners’ progress and whether they are benefitting from interventions and the placement offered to them. Assessments are also conducted to determine placement or if a child may change streams.
School-Readiness Assessments are generally recommended in Grade R during the last few months of the year to determine whether the learner is ready to cope with the formal demands of Grade 1. This type of assessment helps to ascertain if the child has consolidated the necessary skills to thrive in school.
Career Assessments are administered in Grade 11/Level 3 to assist learners to make a more informed decision regarding their future career and vocational options.
Accommodations (concessions) Assessments are administered from Grade 4 until Grade 12 when a referral is made due to observed difficulties during tests and examinations. These assessments are used to determine whether a learner requires extra time, a reader, a scribe, a separate venue, use of technology, spelling concession, or any other concession (Maths or Language) to have a fair opportunity to write examinations.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT) is the use of therapeutic interventions to assist an individual to achieve their highest level of independence in everyday activities. In a school setting, Occupational Therapists use their expertise to help children with physical and psycho-social developmental difficulties in order to achieve optimal learning and independence.
OT for children focuses on the following developmental areas:
Sensory processing and modulation
Fine motor skills
Visual perceptual skills and visual motor integration
Play skills
Praxis and motor planning skills
Our Occupational Therapists work within the Primary School setting from Grade R to Grade 7. They offer individual and group sessions for Grade R to Grade 3, individual sessions from Grade 4 to Grade 6; as well as class workshops for the Grade 7s.
Occupational Therapy services at Orion College do not continue when learners enter the High School.
Our Occupational Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and adhere to the ethical guidelines stipulated by them.
Speech and Language Therapy
Our Speech and Language Therapists (ST) work with a full range of communication difficulties to support academic learning and facilitate effective communication.
These include the following areas of need:
Receptive and expressive language
Auditory processing
Phonological awareness
Communication
Articulation and fluency therapies are provided only when these aspects specifically impact academic learning.
Our Speech and Language Therapists work within the Primary School setting from Grade R to Grade 7. They offer individual and group sessions for Grade R to Grade 3, individual sessions from Grade 4 to Grade 6; as well as class workshops for the Grade 7s.
Speech and Language Therapy services at Orion College do not continue when learners enter the High School.
Our Speech and Language Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and adhere to the ethical guidelines stipulated by them.
Speech and Language Therapy
Our Speech and Language Therapists (ST) work with a full range of communication difficulties to support academic learning and facilitate effective communication.
These include the following areas of need:
Receptive and expressive language
Auditory processing
Phonological awareness
Communication
Articulation and fluency therapies are provided only when these aspects specifically impact academic learning.
Our Speech and Language Therapists work within the Primary School setting from Grade R to Grade 7. They offer individual and group sessions for Grade R to Grade 3, individual sessions from Grade 4 to Grade 6; as well as class workshops for the Grade 7s.
Speech and Language Therapy services at Orion College do not continue when learners enter the High School.
Our Speech and Language Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and adhere to the ethical guidelines stipulated by them.
Remedial Therapy
Remedial Therapy is provided to learners who need support beyond that which is normally given in the classroom. Remedial support addresses difficulties in specific areas of learning and academic development and entails not only providing learners with strategies and skills to overcome their barriers, but it also helps them to fill gaps in their learning. Remedial Therapy targets gaps in the core subjects of English, Mathematic and Afrikaans.
The Remedial Therapists are responsible for administering base-line and scholastic Literacy and Numeracy assessments to specific learners, with the goal of establishing the areas and extent of their difficulties.
Foundation Phase
Remedial Therapy in the Foundation Phase is provided in Grade 2 and 3 for learners who have been identified as having gaps in either literacy or numeracy. It is given in pairs or small groups and focusses on learners’ skills all areas of Literacy. Numeracy support focusses on all basic concepts, at concrete and representational levels. The Beat Dyslexia Programme is offered to learners who present with significant difficulty with reading and spelling.
Intermediate Phase
Remedial Therapy in the Intermediate Phase is given in individual, pairs or groups and addresses accurate and fluent reading, listening and reading comprehension skills, knowledge and implementation of spelling rules and correct punctuation, grammar and syntax in written work.
Support in Intermediate Phase Mathematics reinforces all the concepts taught in the classroom and incorporates additional and alternative strategies. Specific difficulties experienced by learners are also addressed when the need arises. Study skills for examinations in Mathematics are taught and practiced. The Beat Dyslexia Programme is offered to learners who present with significant difficulty with reading and spelling.
Senior Phase
Remedial Therapy continues in the Senior Phase, if necessary, to assist the learners with the transition from Primary to High School. Many of the areas of difficulty that are focused on in the Primary School, continue to be supported to assist learners to become more independent and cope with the academic demands required at this level.