WPPS is proud to formally present its LEAF Centre. While the centre has existed for many years, it has grown and developed to cater for the increasing needs of our learners. More and more children are requiring additional support to cope with the demands of school and life in general. WPPS remains a mainstream school but has responded to the needs of our children by making the necessary supports available at school rather than parents having to seek these supports privately outside of school.
Our LEAF centre offers WPPS learners one-on-one sessions for:
Remedial therapy
The remedial department offers academic support to learners with specific difficulty in reading, written work or maths, including strategies for study skills and ADD/ADHD.
Occupational therapy
The occupational therapist offers therapy for children battling with gross motor, fine motor, visual perceptual and sensory processing difficulties.
Speech therapy
Our speech and language therapist offers an initial formal and standardised assessment and then individualized therapy targeting the following areas: auditory perceptual skills, underlying literacy skills, spoken and written receptive and expressive language, speech sound production, voice disorders, stuttering and social use of language.
Counselling
Our clinical and counselling psychologists offer therapy for children battling with an array of emotional difficulties including: divorce, bullying, illness, trauma, social difficulties, anxiety, depression, defiance & ADD/ADHD.
MEET THE TEAM
Our LEAF team have a wealth of experience and have become an integral part of our school system. They work hand-in-hand with teachers to maximise your child’s progress. Our LEAF team includes:
Remedial therapy
Margaret Butterworth
Margaret is a remedial specialist with over 37 years experience. She is at the school five days a week and teaches on a one to one basis using individualized programs. She has a close working relationship with both the teaching staff and the various therapists and she also offers support to the parents of the children with whom she works.
Occupational therapy
Michelle Vester
Michelle has been practising as a school-based and private occupational therapist for the last 20 years. She is also trained in the field of Sensory Integration. In addition, she is available to consult with the teachers at school on how to use a variety of OT techniques in the classroom which the children can benefit from.
Speech therapy
Nicola Krog (of Julia Cardona’s team)
Nicola qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2010. She did her community service year in 2011 and has worked for Julie Cardona & Associates at Winston Park Primary on Mondays and Wednesdays since 2012.
Counselling
Dr Sia Rees & Lois Deacon
Sia is a counselling psychologist and Lois a clinical psychologist. Between them they have worked in private practice for 17 years. They both have a special interest in working with children and adolescents for most emotional challenges that our children face. Sia consults from the school on a Wednesday and Lois on a Tuesday. Together they have run numerous staff developments to equip and educate our teachers. They have also run broader-scale interventions with the children.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
All our therapists are independent and consult from the LEAF centre during the school week. Parents are responsible for setting up appointments and making payments. Parents can contact the WPPS main office or talk to your child’s teacher for further details. Alternatively, contact the therapists directly as follows:
Remedial therapy: Margaret Butterworth - Either talk to your child’s teacher
or phone the school and leave a message for Margaret who will then contact you.
Occupational therapy: Michelle Vester – You can contact Michelle directly on 031 767 5082
or 082 559 8867
Speech therapy: Nicola Krog (of Julia Cardona’s team) – Contact Nicola on 031-7655567 or juliecardona@telkomsa.net
Counselling: Dr Sia Rees & Lois Deacon – Contact Feri Fassihi at the school to fill in a referral form for counselling and Sia or Lois will get in touch with you directly to book a time.
031-7673214 or ferif@wppschool.co.za