About Us
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS...
The Hamlet School was started in 1954 by the parents of disabled children. It initially operated out of a house in Parktown, before being relocated to Turffontein. The current school buildings occupied by The Hamlet School were built between 1909 and 1910. The Sir John Adamson school was housed at the site until 1959 and the palm trees found in the main quad are more than 90 years old.
THE HAMLET SCHOOL TODAY
The Hamlet School currently accommodates approximately 340 intelectually disabled children of all races and school-going ages. We follow the CAPS curriculum for disabled learners, where teaching is focussed on learning life skills and aiding integration into society. All learners are intellectually challenged in varying levels of disability. Some are physically disabled too, but that is not the focus of the school.
Disorders include: Downs-Syndrome, Epilepsy and mild Cerebral Palsy.
A DEDICATED AND CARING STAFF
Twenty six teachers specialising in the field of intelectually disabled education are supported by 16 class assistants. Occupational and speech therapists also form part of the staff compliment, as well as a full-time nurse. The learners are organised into five phases, namely:
Preparatory (toddlers), Junior, Middle, Senior and Stimulation. Our school has a fully-staffed and equipped kitchen, which provides a nutritional lunch for our learners on a daily basis. We have several school buses with qualified drivers, whom collect and drop-off learners, as an alternative and reliable transport option for parents within our feeder area. Transport fees must be paid to the school when parents make use of this service for their children.
IN CLASS, ON STAGE AND OUTSIDE – WHAT'S ON OFFER
The Hamlet School has a computer centre which aims to provide learners with basic skills such as hand/eye coordination. This is achieved mostly through games and specific educational software. At present, the centre is converting to tablets. We are very active in choral verse, choir and Eisteddfod, with a number of notable successes. Learners are encouraged to participate in a number of activities in order to equip them with basic life and work skills, from baking and woodwork to sewing and crafts. Our learners love their sport and there is no shortage of life lessons to be learnt on the field. We offer Athletics (field and track), Cross Country, Soccer, Netball, Softball and Swimming. And for the learner with a green thumb we have a hot house which needs constant tending.
