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A great second term was had at KET and we have lots of great news to share.
Our FET student teachers are doing well. They have had First Aid Training, which is required to make our course internationally recognised. They also had a Drama Games Workshop, with Larnie Groves, which is always well received by our students. Students covered puppet making, storytelling, science and nature table presentation, and had a lively debate lecture around the “Nature versus Nurture” (The nature versus nurture debate involves whether human behaviour is determined by the environment, either prenatal or during a person's life).
Our occupational therapists, who are part of the IIP team (Intensive Intervention Programme) are visiting the pre-schools and doing wonderful work in the therapy groups. This term they focused on fine motor skills, counting and sorting, colours and shapes, and my body. These vital lessons are taught through drawing, sensory play and role playing exercises.
The parent training evenings have been extremely well attended and there has been much excitement around the inclusion of the “CareUp” mobile phone application, which is being shared with all of our parents. This app is designed to encourage and motivate parents, with simple ideas to help develop their child to achieve their full potential and be school ready.
KET has been appointed as the approved service provider tasked with the registration of ECD centres in our area. There are currently 128 ECD facilities that will need to be registered, a big job, but one which has significant long term benefits around the health and safety of the young children attending these preschools. We are very happy to report that 9 centres have been approved for registration this quarter including our very own KET model pre-school, The Learning Tree.
There are currently 280 children on the ACE (Adopt a child’s education) programme, and thanks to the loyal support of our kind donors these young children are able to attend preschool where they previously would not have been able to. There is an on-going drive towards increasing these numbers annually. The only way to tackle the alarming national literacy and numeracy statistics is to teach these vital lessons to pre-schoolers. The ACE Programme continues to be a top priority for us.
To further assist with the Literacy and Numeracy development of the young learners we serve, the FONIX literacy and NUMICON mathematics programmes are implemented daily in 75 preschools in our area. These programmes tackle the essential skill of learning to read and count, in a fun and interactive way – Play is after all the best way for children to learn.
We remain humbled by the dedication of our preschool teachers who despite scares resources, trying conditions and a lack of fee paying parents, still strive every day to make the preschool years count, for every child in our community. WE salute them!
Regards from the KET team.
Published: 16/06/2018
The first term has flown by and we have lots of news.
KET ‘s primary vision is to support the protection, care and development of young children. Currently the trust supports 76 affiliated preschools in the greater Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay communities. Implementing the necessary programmes, skills development, on site coaching and mentoring to capacitate educators to deliver quality preschool education, and ensure children achieve school readiness... This is done in a safe and stimulating environment and KET remains the only organisation in the area that focuses exclusively on early childhood development (ECD).
The KET Edu-facilitators attended a week of Stellar Training in Grahamstown during this term and will be sharing their knowledge with our local teachers. Our valuable volunteers have been assisting us with quality assurance when they visit our pre-schools, playing a vital role in monitoring ECD Programmes.
Our Teacher Training Facility is now in full swing and currently has 4 groups of students attending form training. We recently presented POWER OF PLAY workshops which were very well received.
Extensive research has shown that a quality preschool education is one of the most significant factors ensuring the growth of a successful and productive nation.
Our Model Pre-school has just been completed in Khayelethu South. This model preschool aligns with the National Development plan and allows for students to do their practical training in a registered model preschool by 2019.
With the New Year came a whole new group of 4-5 year old children as part of our Intensive Intervention Program (IIP). There are 4 new sites in our group and all the teachers – new and old are very happy to be part of this project. More than 400 children in 20 different sites all born in 2013 will be screened to determine their Grade R readiness. We have screened 3 quarters of the children and are working hard to be finished by the end of March. Therapy groups should start at the beginning of the second term. A recent visit from the DSD and sister pilot site, The Learning Initiative from Cape Town went very well and they were full of praise for the work being done on this vital project.
With your endorsement and support we can continue to ensure that the young children of the greater Knysna area are given the best possible start in formal schooling.
Regards from The KET Team
Published: 22/03/2018
Knysna Education Trust improves the quality of teaching with the aim of maximising the physical development, education and learning for young children through essential, measurable programmes. The Trust currently supports 63 affiliated community preschools in the greater Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay area. We are so proud of how our organisation is growing. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in South Africa in conjunction with the European Union brought out a publication and The Knysna Education was honoured to be featured as one of the leading NGOs proving that providing quality early childhood development programmes which will have a significant effect on reducing poverty and inequality in our community and across South Africa.
Our preschool children are developing their literacy in amazing ways as Fonix is presented in their mother tongue, they are able to easily recognise and identify letters. Children who started the programme last year are now at the stage where they can confidently build words; some are already able to build short sentences, while others are able to read easy story books and phrases. Most of the Grade R children are able to write their names and build their own words whilst understanding the letters and formation. This programme has produced great results and elevated preschool literacy levels as it is a perfect way to introduce children to the world of literacy in a playful and fun way.
The introduction of the Numicon mathematics programme at 36 of KET’s affiliated preschools has provided some extremely beneficial learning experiences for children in the ECD sector. Its multisensory approach is ideally suited to how young children learn. Mathematics is, by its very nature, built almost entirely on abstract concepts. Numicon’s multisensory approach helps children to understand numbers through their natural ability and strengths when working with pattern.
Our first group of Level 5 teachers have qualified from our Teacher Training Centre. These ladies are now in a position to earn a better living and provide the young children with the knowledge and nurturing they need. We have worked closely with Hospice and First Aid providers to assist the students with their training. We are very proud of our graduates and are looking forward to the next intake of new student teachers.
IIP – Intensive Intervention Program… This program was started in May in conjunction with the DSD and WCED and focuses on the development of 4 -5 year old children’s scholastic abilities. There are 20 schools partaking in this initiative and 508 children. The aim of this program is to determine the level of Grade R readiness. After screening the children improve and help the children who struggle or are behind with their scholastic development and age appropriate milestones with intensive therapy groups by two Occupational Therapists and qualified teachers. This program is spearheaded by The Learning Initiative in Cape Town. The parents are also motivated and encouraged to take a more active role in their child’s education and development through the CareUp app that are being downloaded at the CareUp parent evenings.
We thank each and every one of our Sponsors for your kindness and on going support. Together we are changing the lives of these young children.
Regards from The KET Team
Published: 02/08/2017
Warm Festive greeting to everyone. Another busy year at the Knysna Education Trust is coming to a close. We are extremely fortunate to report, that while all in our town were affected in some way by the devastating fires in June, it was a miracle that no preschools suffered infrastructure damage.
We continue to support the teachers, children and friends who suffered in this terrible tragedy.
KET was selected to participate in a Pilot Project initiated by the Department of Social Development to determine School readiness in children aged 4-5 in 20 selected ECD sites.
507 children were screened to determine the extent of their developmental level. Target groups were identified and the team of occupational therapists and teachers facilitate 2 x 45-minute therapy sessions per week. These specialised interventions to correct specific developmental delays, and address developmental delays in areas such as fine and gross motor skills, emotional development, spatial awareness and basic literacy and mathematics acquisition. The group are re-screened following the round of therapy sessions, to ensure progress in all milestones.
The programme will continue for a further 2 years, and the overreaching benefits hope to address the plight of children dropping out during formal schooling, and children are able to start their schooling career ready and able to cope with the demands of formal schooling.
On-going in-centre training, as well as workshops allows teachers from affiliated centres to strengthen their capacity and classroom skills, ultimately a confident teacher creates positive learning environments.
Workshops held this year include Classroom Safety and Management, Grade R readiness and assessment, Storytelling, Puppet making and Barriers to Learning.
Without proper nutrition a child’s brain cannot grow and learn. KET currently supports 17 ECD centres with feeding schemes. For the majority of children in the disadvantaged communities the meal received at school is the only meal for the day. KET works alongside cooks and the ongoing partnerships with feeding NPO e’Pap ensures all these hungry minds also enjoy full tummies.
This remains a challenge in today’s economic times. Our donor base continues to grow, and loyal donors both locally and internationally provide constant support. KET uses 3 local fundraising events to generate further funds, these events are a great success and are growing in popularity as well as income.
For the many young children unable to attend preschool due to their family’s dire financial situation this is an opportunity to stay at school. The ACE programme allows funders to sponsor these young children and ensure they are able to attend preschool in these their most formative years. The programme currently supports 23 children and our sincere thanks to our ACE Sponsors, together we are changing these children’s lives one child at a time.
KET continues to improve the quality of teaching learning and development of young children through ongoing teacher training and skills development. The Formal training component has seen 10 Students teachers graduate their Level 5 diploma, and a further 10 students graduate their LEVEL 4 diplomas. We salute these dedicated students for their hard work and achieved their qualifications. We know they will make a significant difference in the lives of the young children they will teach.
We would like to thank all of our loyal supporters, volunteers, sponsors and funders. Your help remains the catalyst allowing KET to make a positive change in the lives of the many children in our community .
We wish you all a happy festive season and a prosperous New Year!
Published: 27/11/2017
KET is celebrating 21 Years of Advancing Early Childhood Development.
21 ways in which we make a difference, We:-
1. Assist 35 local preschools
2. Upgrade facilities and buildings
3. Supply educational equipment
4. Provide teacher training
5. Implement our FONIX Literacy programme
6. Implement our NUMICON Mathematics programme
7. Assist needy children through Adopt A Child's Education programme
8. Provide practical teacher workshops
9. Implement feeding schemes
10. Co-ordinate volunteers to assist
11. Organize fundraising events
12. Share our expertise
13. Assist with administration
14. Network on social media channels
15. Work with other charitable organisations
16. Liaise with departmental staff with regards to registration processes
17. Provide mother-tongue support through Edu-assistants
18. Regular site visits to schools
19. Provide extensive resources and support to principals
20. Initiate projects focusing on ECD development
21. Do everything we can to ensure preschools become self sustainable
Watch this space as we continue our work in advancing holistic preschool education !
Published: 19/08/2014
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