Forest Town School

Forest Town School

The Forest Town School Foundation is a pioneering organization in South Africa dedicated to providing comprehensive education, therapy, and medical/clinical treatments for children with complex disabilities. Established in 1948, it has a rich history of serving children and youth and has evolved to offer a range of specialized services and programs. Here’s an overview of their offerings:

Key Aspects of Forest Town School Foundation

Target Group:

• • Children and youth with complex disabilities, including cerebral palsy and other physical and learning disabilities.

Age Range:

• • Services start from as young as three years old up to the age of 25 years.

Programs Offered:

• • Vocational education through work-based training.
  • Post-school learnerships.
  • Specialized medical and clinical services.
  • Training for therapists in neurodevelopment, occupational, speech, and physiotherapy.
  • Collaborations with medical professionals and University of the Witwatersrand.

Goals:

• • To enable each child to reach their full potential and become contributing, happy citizens.

Student Support:

• • Multi-disciplinary approach involving various specialized activities.
  • Social welfare and feeding support, transport, and assistive devices for mobility and communication.

Funding and Financial Support:

• • Intensive fundraising efforts to provide essential treatments and support.
  • Majority of learners classified below the poverty line.
  • Compliance with Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) and registered as an NGO and public benefit organization.

Educational Facilities:

• • Adapted mainstream classes from pre-primary to junior modified department.
  • Specialized rooms and departments like the media center, heartlines room, and Bella Donna finishing school.
  • Medical wing, therapy rooms, respite care, speech therapy, physiotherapy clinics, spinal and occupational therapy clinics, and social welfare services.

Support Services:

• • Classroom teacher assistants/caregivers.
  • Maintenance of historic and contemporary school buildings.
  • Transport facilities and aftercare.

Volunteer and Partnership Programs:

• • Collaboration with CSI staff, British Army’s Royal Signals White Helmets Motorbike Display Team, and various other volunteers.

Vocational Training and Learnership Programs:

• Focus on functional literacy, numeracy, life skills, and specific vocational skills.
• Partnerships with various accrediting agencies and universities.
• Phase two of the WEP program focuses on ‘Trading while Training’ with an emphasis on practical experience and job shadowing.

Forest Town School Foundation plays a crucial role in not only educating but also empowering children with disabilities. Their approach, integrating education with therapy and vocational training, ensures that students are prepared for independent and fulfilling lives. For more information or to support their initiatives, you can contact Forest Town School Foundation directly.