A specialised educational system is necessary for someone with disabilities be they medical, mental or psychological.
School Units
Nursery School
The nursery school accepts pupils from the age of 4. Our pupils receive a full assessment by an Occupational Therapist or Psychologist with a recommendation for Silver Linings or a Special Needs school. With the small class size, maximum of 6, our pupils receive essential and vital early intervention. The head teacher works alongside an assistant teacher with the help of volunteers and our pupils receive occupational and speech therapy.
Through the use of individual education plans, pupils fine tune their gross motor, fine motor, academic and life skills. The importance of early intervention cannot be underestimated as we are able to address developmental milestones, behavior modification, and speech development.
Junior School
The Junior School consists of two classes, Junior 1 and Junior 2. Our pupils range from the ages of 8 to 12 years and learn through the use of Individual Education Plans. The classes are small in size with the maximum being 7 pupils per class, led by a head teacher and an assistant teacher.
Our Junior pupils enjoy a wealth of extra-curricular activities including horse riding, swimming, athletics, tag rugby, music, and art. They too receive Occupational and Speech Therapy from our therapists.
Senior School
The Senior School consists of two classes, Senior 1 and Senior 2/Intermediates. The pupils are aged 13 to 18 years and enjoy a range of academic and life lessons to help them grow in confidence and independence.
The head teacher and assistant teacher in each class create conducive environments for pupils to mature and prepare for life outside of school. Our pupils continue to receive Speech therapy and engage in many extra-curricular activities to make a well-rounded education.
Our School Academic Structure
Through Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Silver Linings is able to deliver effective, personalised learning in the classroom which is not only based on internationally recognised academic curricula but encompasses all aspects of the child’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. A high teacher to pupil ratio (one teacher to 3.5 pupils) ensures that each of our pupils receives the attention they require.
A few of our teaching programs include; the DISTAR (Direct Instructional System for Teaching and Remedial) curriculum which has proven to be an effective method of teaching for our pupils. The ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) program which some pupils are able to advance onto and begin their journey of earning their certificates. Jolly Phonics which is taught from Nursery up to Senior school and is a fun, engaging and meaningful way of teaching sounds and reading.
Our Staff
We pride ourselves on our professional team of qualified and dedicated staff, the majority of whom possess degrees in Special Needs Education and have years of experience behind them.
Management
Nicolle Grant
Headmistress
Michelle Bakare
Assistant Administrator
Vicky Chouhan
Financial Administrator
Teaching Staff
Natasha Musvosvi
Head Teacher (Nursery)
Martha Chitenderu
Assistant Teacher (Nursery)
Mercy Sithole
Head Teacher (Junior 1)
Miranda Mlotshwa
Assistant Teacher (Junior 1)
Blessing Madzwamutse
Head Teacher (Junior 2)
Portia Chivasa
Assistant Teacher (Junior 2)
Laura Mushure
Head Teacher (Senior 1)
Washington Muronda
Assistant Teacher (Senior 1)
Farai Saruchera
Head Teacher (Senior 2)
Margaret Kapininga
Assistant Teacher (Senior 2)
Support Staff
Tryffin Tamanikwa
Events
See our Facebook page for upcoming events.
Admissions
At Silver Linings, we have welcomed new pupils through-out the school year and pupils may enter at any stage of their school career, in compliance with our Admissions Policy and where vacancies arise. We pride ourselves on having a comprehensive admissions procedure that ensures the school is the best fit for the child and that the child will be able to flourish at Silver Linings.
Prospective parents should complete an application form and provide us with relevant medical documents pertaining to the diagnosis and medical treatments. We also require a referral from an educational psychologist, a speech and language therapist and/or an occupational therapist. These documents need to be provided before we can arrange a trial date. Every prospective pupil will partake in a one-to-two-week trial period in which they will spend time in the designated classroom along with their peers and the teachers. Upon a successful trial, a place can then be offered and the pupil will become part of our Silver Linings family.
Our Wishlist
| Item | Description | Quantity Required |
| Floor tiles | To fit 10m x 7m | 1 |
| Area rugs for classrooms | Floor Rugs | 5 |
| Desks & Chairs for Nursery Students | Desk + Chair | 9 |
| Desks & Chairs for Junior School Students | Desk + Chair | 14 |
| Desks & Chairs for Senoir School Students | Desk + Chair | 16 |
| Paint for Doors and Window Panes | Gloss paint | 3.5litres |
Volunteer
We take many volunteers from a range of backgrounds, from student attachments to gap year pupils and individuals wanting to make more of their spare time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back and also gain valuable knowledge of the special education community. As a volunteer, you can become an important part in advocating for change and acceptance within our society for children and adults with learning disabilities.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact us on admin@silverlinings.co.zw or whatsapp +263 784 860 137.
