1. How much are the school fees?
Our current fees structure can be found under ADMISSIONS & FEE STRUCTURE.

2. What sports can my child do after school?
We manage all our sports in-house and this includes soccer, netball and athletics. Karate is also offered privately, as well as Mighty Kings Rugby & Netball Divas for all grades.

3. Do you do the same curriculum that other schools do?
Yes, we follow the CAPS curriculum and write our exams through SACAI (South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute)

4. What subjects do you offer in Grade 10 – 12?
English HL, Afrikaans FAL, Mathematical Literacy, LO and Tourism . Learners can choose between Consumer Studies or Business Studies and Dramatic Arts (Grade 10 only, Grade 11) and CAT. During the Grade 9 year, we evaluate and decide on the Grade 10 subjects based on the interests and abilities of our learners.

5. What else does my school fee include?
Every child has access to counselling or play therapy, if this has been recommended for the learners who need it.  Grades 1-12 receive Afrikaans Conversational groups.  Grades 1-7 have access to Reading Eggs and Mathseeds, which are educational tools to extend their knowledge in reading and mathematics. Grades 1-3 and Vocational Phase learners, receive Occupational therapy functional skills groups.  Our multi-disciplinary team led by our SENCO is always on hand to offer any advice or support to parents. Proper exam preparation ensures that learners are well-prepared and organised and concessions that are needed are also provided within our resources.

6. What other therapies do you offer?
The following therapies are not included in school fees but are offered during the school day:

• Speech and Language Therapy
• Remedial Therapy
• Occupational Therapy, and 
• Physiotherapy

7. Are you a mainstream school?
We offer the same curriculum that is followed at other schools, however we include a lot of classroom support for those who need it. We also offer a vocational, and an online option.  Our online learning academy is ideal for students who are self-driven and prefer to set their own pace for learning. 

8. How do I know that Elsen is the right fit for my child?
We offer a no-obligation visit for approximately 5 days to give your child an opportunity to experience Elsen Academy for themselves. This visit also allows us to get to know your child and see what his/her needs are. At the end of the visit, we will meet with you to give feedback, and to discuss the findings.

9. How big are your classes?
Classes are no bigger than 14. In some cases, we have teacher assistants that co-teach with our teachers. Therapists are also often seen in class adding extra support.

10. Is there a school uniform?
We have a summer and a winter uniform. Learners in Grades 4 – 12 wear blazers and ties. The learning academy do not wear a uniform.

11. What communication will I receive?
We make use of a WhatsApp Community for important announcements. In Primary School teachers send daily homework emails and regularly inform parents about projects or assignments that are due. In High School and Remedial CAPS teachers use Google Classroom to share homework and projects. Learner Support discussions and Learner Case conferences are also held termly.  

12. Do you offer an after-care programme?
We have an After-care facility for Grades 1-3, and a Homework Centre for Grades 4-12 to help learners with the completion of homework and supervision. 

13. How can parents get involved?
At the beginning of every year, a list is sent home with some of the areas where help from parents is needed, i.e. EMAS, is our parent body that encourages parents to get involved in fundraising events such as our annual golf day, trivia etc. and contribute to sport events, invigilating during exams, providing flowers for the lobby, and generally get involved in the social activities at Elsen.

14. What if my child is not able to manage the academic curriculum?
Fortunately, we do have various options and categories of support that are offered. Once your child is accepted, he/she is placed according to the amount of support and intervention that is needed, this will be communicated to parents and the categories of support explained.

15. Will my child get the same matric certificate as learners in other schools?
Elsen Academy is an independent school that  writes exams that are set by an external examining body named SACAI, and is a registered SACAI centre. SACAI is accredited with UMALUSI that issues all matric certificates, therefore our matric certificates are the same as the certificates issued at other schools. 

16. My child suffers from Neurodiversity, what support is there for him?
Our teachers use extensive resources that are neuro-affirming, i.e. power-point presentations, songs and rhymes to help learn concepts, mind-maps, diagrams, etc. The use of technology and devices in our classrooms enables learners to find their most suitable learning method.

17. What support is there for my child during exams?
During tests and exams, learners are offered various accommodations, in order to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in any way. The concessions take place in a  separate venue, reader, scribe, prompting & planning, extra time and emotional support.

18. How does the application process work? 
One of our admission requirements is a scholastic assessment that is no older than two years. Since appointments with educational psychologists can sometimes take time to secure, we encourage prospective parents to arrange for the assessment as soon as it is recommended. While you wait for the evaluation, we can begin completing the rest of the required documentation. We understand that paperwork can be overwhelming, but we’re here to support you every step of the way, help is just a phone call or email away.