Our Mission

To provide excellent teaching and therapies;

Our 4-fold mission is:

• To develop each child to his or her full potential;
• To provide excellent teaching;
• To have total parent-staff co-operation, and
• To share our resources with others who have a need.

History

The school was established in 1985 as the result of the amalgamation of Sunnyday Centre and the Marah Training Centre and moved to its present Lansdowne premises on the 8th March 1991. Although originally built to accommodate 150 learners, the school now has more than 230.

Our Emblem

Our emblem depicts our origin – The white dove is the emblem of the Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association who established Sunnyday Centre for learners with cerebral palsy and severe intellectual disabilities. The palm tree at an oasis is the emblem of the Oasis Association for persons with an intellectually disability who established Marah training Centre.

Admission

Mentally/physically challenged are referred to Bel Porto by the Western Cape Education Department through their regional Education Management and Development Centres (EMDC's). Other referral agents are medical doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, school clinics and other special schools. The child and his/her parents are interviewed by a multi-professional team of specialists who, after the interview, decide on an observation period of the child. If after the observation period, it is felt that the child would benefit from the schools’ specialized educational and therapeutic programmes, every effort is made to enroll him/her as a learner in the school.