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Admissions
Admission criteria
We consider admission of children and young adults with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19.
We have a limited capacity for children who are within the Autistic spectrum and learners with multiple disabilities.
Age is a factor when considering learners who display challenging behaviour.
As we only offer boarding during term time, parents / guardians are fully responsible for holiday care.
The Kindergarten day programme also caters for children aged 3 to 6, without special needs or disabilities.
Admission Procedure
Prospective learners with Special Educational Needs may be referred to Camphill School by another school, a social worker,
medical doctor or therapist, or parents or carers can make initial contact. The procedure for admission of learners to
Camphill School is as follows:
After initial enquiry by phone, fax or e-mail, relevant written information and application forms will be sent to the
enquirer. The following additional documents are required when application is made for a learner:
- Copies of School Reports
- Copies of Medical Reports
- Details of any special treatments, medication, allergies, etc.
- Copy of child’s Birth Certificate or Identification document
- A recent photograph
Upon receipt of completed application forms, the Admissions Group will form an interview group, consisting of various
relevant people, e.g. house parent, teacher, medical officer. An interview date will be arranged with the enquirer and the
prospective learner. During the interview, detailed information is shared by both parties and the parents/guardians are
shown around Camphill School.
It is required that at least 2 adults who know the learner, attend the interview. This will allow the child and one carer
to be shown around, while more personal information regarding the child is shared in the interview group.
Following the interview, the Admissions Group, in liaison with other experienced members of staff, will determine if the
school can meet the needs of the child or young adult concerned.
If the school will be able to meet the learner’s needs, we will either:
- Offer in writing a place at the school, stating the start date, or
- Advise in writing that there is no current vacancy at the school and offer that the learner’s name be kept on a waiting
list.
When placement is offered at the School, parents/carers will be requested to sign the Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of
Admission at the agreed fee level. Upon receipt of the signed Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of Admission, the
Admissions Group will send the parents/carer the formal Admission letter. This will include details of the child’s teacher
and houseparent as well as a clothing list for residential learners. Every learner is admitted on the understanding that the
first full term at School is seen as a trial and assessment period. An Assessment Review will be held at the end of the trial
period, which will usually be one term, or longer as deemed appropriate by the School Management Group.
When a learner’s name is on the waiting list, it could take more than a year before he/she is placed. If we are unable to
place a learner within a year, we may request a follow-up interview and occasionally, we may then decide that we would not be
able to admit the learner at all, especially in cases of a learner being over 12 years old, learners displaying very
challenging behaviour and learners with autism.
When considering the admission of a learner, we have to find an appropriate space in one of our houses as well as a space in
the appropriate class. We take great care in admitting a new learner and take into consideration their age, gender,
temperament, abilities, their specific physical and social needs, social urgency of the application and financial implication
on the School. We also have to consider the constellation of learners in the houses and whether they can absorb a new learner
at the time.
Thus it may happen that the child who’s name is last on the waiting list, is placed first, simply because a
vacancy appropriate to that specific child has arisen.
There are Transition reviews for learners who have been in the Kindergarten and would like to join Class 1 and
another Transition review for learners in the year they turn 14, to determine if they will be Upper School candidates.
Thus, children admitted into the Kindergarten or junior school, may not necessarily continue with junior school or Upper
School, respectively. The decision will be made following the Transition reviews.
The School reserves the right to postpone or cancel the process of admission of a learner if circumstances change,
eg. the child’s needs or behaviour change or if there is no longer space and appropriate facility for that particular pupil.
If the school will not be able to meet the child’s needs and therefore not offer a place, parents/ carers will be advised
in writing.
Admission to the Upper School Programme
[Click] “Upper School” to view info on site for learners from within Camphill School
The Upper School Programme, whilst offering placement within a shared site and ethos, is a wholly separate programme with
its own curriculum and structure.
During the academic year that the learner turns 14, a Transition Review will take place. This review will consider the
suitability of ongoing placement in Camphill School’s Upper School Programme after the learner turns 16. The parents will
be given all relevant information regarding the Upper School Programme, in order for them to decide whether they would like
to apply for their child to the Upper School Programme.
Six months before a learner is supposed to join the Upper School, the Admission Group and Upper School Coordinators will
discuss all information and recommendations to determine if we will still be able to meet the student’s needs. If so, the
parents will be requested to apply and the relevant application forms will be sent to them.
Upon receipt of the Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of Admission at the agreed fee level, the formal Admission letter
will be sent to the parents/ carers.
Every student is admitted to the Upper School Programme on the understanding that the first full term in the new Programme
is seen as a trial and assessment period. An Assessment Review will be held at the end of the trial period, which will
usually be one term or longer as deemed appropriate by the Upper School co-ordinators and as ratified by the Management
Group.
The School reserves the right to postpone or cancel the process of admission of a learner if circumstances change, eg. the
child’s needs or behaviour change or if there is no longer space and appropriate facility for that particular learner.
Structure of school charges
The structure of our school charges is shared during the formal interview.
School charges are adjusted annually to take into account the rate of inflation or other costs such as Western Cape
Education Department and Health Department inspection demands, increase in employed staff, or the change of needs of a
learner. A deposit of R5000,00 is due before admission of a boarding learner. This deposit will be held in a separate
account and will, on request, be repayable without interest, at the end of your child’s school career with us.
The school
has a modest bursary fund to help in cases of hardship. Application for reduced charges must be made on the relevant
forms. The application is considered before a learner can be admitted.
Suspension, Dismissal and Withdrawal Policy
Under normal circumstances the decision as to when a child leaves the School would be mutually agreed upon at least one
term before the date of leaving. When a child’s situation becomes unmanageable or suddenly breaks down, an Emergency Review
will be held in order to determine the way forward. In extreme circumstances, it may be necessary to dismiss, or suspend, a
child at short notice when that child is causing harm to him/herself or others, or is exhibiting unmanageable behaviour and
clearly shows no response to care and educational strategies.
If a child is withdrawn by parents or authorities, one term’s notice is required in writing, or one term’s fees are expected
to be paid.
In the event of temporary suspension, it shall remain the absolute responsibility of the Parents/ legal guardians to
provide for the needs of the child who is excluded from the School. The parents/ legal guardians are also responsible for
expenses that may be incurred. For any further enquiries, please contact our School office Mondays to Thursdays from 09:00
to 16:00 and Fridays from 09:00 – 13:00. You can also contact us by e-mail:
schooladmission@camphill-hermanus.org.za
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