JEFFREYS BAY – Love 2 Learn Cottage School, which opened its doors in Jeffreys Bay six months ago, is making a significant impact in supporting children who struggle in traditional classroom settings.
The independent Christian-based school, registered with the Department of Education, currently serves 80 learners from Grade R to Grade 7.
Principal Corlene Vosloo, who brings 37 years of teaching experience to her role, said that the vision of the school is to create a safe space for kids with learning difficulties.
She said that the school caters for learners facing various challenges, with some learners suffering from anxiety, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).
Vosloo emphasised that there is a great need in the community for similar schools because not all children learn the same, explaining that what sets Love 2 Learn Cottage School apart is its approach to classroom sizes and individual attention.
“There are 10 learners in a class. We keep the classes small because the learners need individual attention. This enables us to cater for different learning styles,” said Vosloo.
The school offers the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), which is the standard academic curriculum for mainstream schooling.
In addition, for younger learners in Grades R to 3, the school has a built-in remedial programme.
While the school has not been classified as a special needs school, Vosloo said that many of the learners do not struggle intellectually, but mainly have learning barriers.
Her understanding of these challenges comes from extensive experience and education.
To gain more insight into this challenge, Vosloo completed her master’s degree with a focus on inclusive education.
“Through my experience as a teacher, I have seen a great need for children who battle in schools with larger classrooms. Many children were not coping in regular schools,” said Vosloo.
Elaborating on the school’s name, Vosloo explained that they chose “cottage” because it represents a family atmosphere, and with teachers serving as mother figures to the learners, the name felt particularly appropriate.
“We focus on looking after the learners emotionally, and the teachers truly care for the learners,” said Vosloo.
Since the school opened its doors six months ago, she said that they have achieved great success both with the school and individual learners.
“Many of the learners enter the school with their heads bowed, but as time goes by, they gain confidence, they are willing to take risks and believe in themselves. Many learners who battle with various learning challenges have excelled after spending some time at the school,” said Vosloo.
“Love 2 Learn Cottage School is a happy place.”
Vosloo attributes this success to God’s hand and her dedicated teachers, whom she describes as the “dream team”.
Beyond academics, the school offers additional programmes such as after-school tutoring, cooking classes, handicrafts and needlework.
While the school does not offer any sports yet, they plan to offer chess training.
For Grade 7 learners specifically, Vosloo explained that the seniors participate in a leadership programme where they are each given specific responsibilities and are given the opportunity to serve others.
She said that the school also supports families through parent support evenings, where they can share any difficulties that they are experiencing and find solutions.
Vosloo further said that these sessions ensure parents feel like they are not alone in their journey.
Looking to the future, expansion is on the horizon.
“We are hoping to expand the school and are currently seeking larger premises so that we can have two classes for each grade, one with 10 learners in Afrikaans and another with 10 learners in English,” said Vosloo.
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