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Newcastle parents were limited in special needs education options for several years. However, following the official opening of Goslings Academy on Wednesday, 19 January 2022, new opportunities are on the rise.
Goslings Academy, located at Grey Goose Game Lodge, is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) dedicated exclusively to special needs children.
Founder/principal of Goslings Academy, Adele Hand, explains that the creation of the academy has been years in the making. “One of the main reasons I initially looked at starting Goslings Academy was for my son, Guillermo (Gigi), who is autistic. However, the more I investigated the matter, I saw there is a huge gap in the primary sector when it comes to special needs children.”
Therefore, the academy aims to establish a fully functional school covering Grade 1 to Grade 7.
Furthermore, Gosling Academy welcomes autistic, Down Syndrome, and various special needs children.
“We are currently registering Goslings Academy as an Independent School with the Department of Education. The entire process will take six months to completion. Currently, we are operating as a therapy centre.”
Goslings Academy currently has four students and two educators. The academy employs four therapists who assist children with speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.
Adele, who says that “she is introducing students to an entirely new world”, explains that as the school grows, she and her staff will take on additional initiatives to ensure that special needs children grow into functional adults who can eventually join mainstream society.
“Eventually, we want to establish an institute where our learners can study further and pursue careers. From there, we want to look at establishing programmes with businesses where these youngsters can then be employed.”
Continuing to look to the future, Adele emphasises the importance of community support for Goslings Academy.
“Our teacher to child ratio is one teacher for 2 ½ children. This means that for every five children, there are two teachers, this ensures the child gets the necessary attention and support. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford the necessary fees, as the cost of the therapists are costly.”
Additionally, she says, “At the moment, we are operating from the conference centre at Grey Goose. Once we are registered as an Independent School and get the support from residents, we intend to turn the stables at Grey Goose into a fully-fledged school.”
If you would like to contact Goslings Academy, please do so on the below details:
- Adele Hand at 074 998 4099
- Visit the Gosling Academy’s website by clicking here.
- Visit the school’s Facebook page, Goslings Academy.
What are your thoughts on this new addition to the special needs sector? Share your views in the comment section below.
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Looking forward to seeing this academy soar to new heights. Good luck Adel and the team