Staff Training and Development
There is no formal autism specific training course at any tertiary institution in the Western Cape. Our school has managed to obtain private funding to train our staff in essential autism specific approaches by external professionals in the field. We have devised a staff training model that empowers staff to implement acquired knowledge in a confident and responsible way. We see only limited value in training where a few staff members are exposed to input and then expected to effect meaningful change. Staff training is continuous and extends to all sectors of our staff compliment. It is regarded as crucial for quality service delivery.
There is a formal in house staff training slot for professional staff every week and training for other staff members at regualar intervals. Sourcing funding for the more ambitious operations remains an annual priority.
At the beginning of 2010 the staff came back to school a day early to finalize administrative tasks as PECS trainers from the UK offered training during the first week. It was the third time that these competent professionals capasitated our staff to implement PECS effectively.