Chaeli Cottage Pre-School – Chaeli Campaign

ABOUT US

Chaeli Cottage Preschool provides an equitable learning space for pre-schoolers with autism, cerebral palsy, sight/hearing impairments, spina bifida (and other disabilities) AND neuro-typical children who meet all their development milestones. Learning together by playing together – as it should be!

An occupational therapist, speech therapist and physiotherapist visit weekly to facilitate inclusive learning and play, focusing on the needs of all the children, not just the disabled pre-schoolers. Assisting individual children happens in the classroom if needed and whole-group inclusive activities are encouraged.

Our school is inclusive in many ways: we have children from different race groups, different religions and with different abilities. At Chaeli Cottage Preschool we provide a safe space and loving environment for ALL children to learn through play and interaction. Our preschool programme caters for children between 3 and 5 years of age and there is also a designated Grade R class.

Growing Together | Chaeli Cottage Preschool 2024 Reflection 🌱✨

Bright Futures | Chaeli Cottage Preschool 2023 Reflection 🌟🎨

Chaeli Cottage Preschool Photo Gallery slide show 2022

Chaeli Campaign Preschool 2020

WANT TO HELP US?

Donate to the pre-school:

Many children with disabilities are turned away from conventional pre-schools. That doesn’t happen at Chaeli Cottage Inclusive Pre-School. Having an impairment is expensive and we don’t want school fees to be the barrier that stands in the way of children accessing a quality education. School fees should be R2 000 per month per child but are greatly subsidized by The Chaeli Campaign. Help us to continue teaching these children so that we, in turn, may also learn from them. Inclusion in action.

Join our Club CC360:

Club CC360 is the Sustainability & Supporter Loyalty Programme of The Chaeli Campaign. Club CC360 is a space for us to celebrate our work with you and connect like-minded, philanthropic community members who are passionate about positively impacting the lives of disabled children and their families.

WHY CHAELI COTTAGE PRESCHOOL WAS THE IDEAL PRESCHOOL FOR OUR CHILDREN?

We chose to send our non-disabled daughter to Chaeli Cottage as her disabled brother was already benefitting from the inclusive preschool and we wanted her to learn and show grace to those who are neuro-atypical. Her mainstream primary school teachers have commented that she is exceptionally kind and aware of other’s needs, which I attribute at least in part to her time at Chaeli Cottage.

The reason why I enrolled my sons at Chaeli Cottage was to lay the foundation of inclusion so that they could see firsthand that everybody is equal, everybody is the same deep inside and it doesn’t matter what our differences are. Being a mother of two non-disabled boys who have attended Chaeli Cottage warms my heart knowing that going forward they will remember that everyone is special in their own unique way. And moving on to mainstream Grade 1 was a smooth process as they were well prepared academically and socially.

For us it is the fact that my child gets exposure to kids who are different from him. He learns that even though they use a wheelchair or can’t speak, they can still be great friends and find ways to play together. It is so different from the way I grew up, where I did not learn to interact with anyone with a disability. It is not just about building compassion and understanding. It is all about building friendships and community with all kinds of people. What an incredible life skill!