LEAP Centre
LEAP refers to “Learning Enhancement to Access Potential.”
Educational Psychologist
An educational psychologist provides an opportunity for educational assessment and emotional support in the context of therapy. Assessments measure intellectual, cognitive, academic, and emotional development to help understand a child’s overall functioning. Therapy provides emotional and social support in the specific context of school, family, and development. Natalie Hutton is currently the educational psychologist in the LEAP team.
Speech Therapist
A speech therapist in schools targets speech sounds, fluency, and voice disorders. A speech therapist also deals with language, literacy, social communication and cognitive-communication skills. The speech therapist on site is currently Tracy Barrett.
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist works on developing the necessary sensory processing, fine motor, gross motor and visual perceptual 'building blocks' for successful participation in age-appropriate play, school work and daily life. Occupational therapy is offered by Kelly Pellew currently.
Assistants
The LEAP team also has assistants who provide learning support for learners who need additional tutoring. Currently, there is support for the foundation and senior phases by various individuals. Learning support is contracted privately.
The LEAP team also assist with providing facilitation to learners who require in-class support. These facilitators are contracted privately to the parents and work individually.
The LEAP Team
Natalie Hutton
Natalie is a qualified Educational Psychologist, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and Board of Health Care Funders (BHF). She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She did her undergraduate studies and Honours degree in Psychology at Rhodes University. She is also a qualified Intermediate Phase teacher with experience in the classroom in South Africa as well as abroad. She has also taught learning support along the way. She is a published journal author and experienced facilitator.
Natalie has been in private practice for a number of years, with a special interest in assessment. She also does therapy and is passionate about restoration.
Credentials:
Natalie Hutton
Educational Psychologist
HPCSA. No: PS0130540
Practice No.: PR0860030613959
BA (RU) BA Hons Psych (RU) PGCE (RU) MSocSci Ed Psych (UKZN) Summa cum Laude
Tracy Barrett
'To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue’ was the quote that I had inscribed in my final school yearbook alongside my photograph. It is an adage that I have clung to for many years.
I believe that words of affirmation, encouragement and hope bring life. In a similar vein, I am dependent on God for His strength and direction. I spend hours working on programmes and therapy aids.
It has been a privilege to practice as a Speech-and Language Therapist for over thirty years mostly within the paediatric population. It is a delight to witness the progress in pre-school and school-aged children as their communicative skills improve through individualised or group therapy. I value relationships and enjoy the collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams as well as the academic staff.
I have a particular interest in auditory perceptual skills and the link to reading and language learning. Having worked in educational institutions for most of my career, I enjoy equipping children with the skills necessary to unlock a passion for reading. Consequently, I spend hours in bookshops and would like to own a library or perhaps a toyshop one day.
Qualified as a Speech, Language and Hearing Therapist in Speech Pathology and Audiology (current term is Communication Pathology) from the University of Pretoria.
Postgraduate higher education diploma through the University of Southern Africa in Pre-primary education.
Ongoing professional development.
Registered with the Health Professionals Council of Southern Africa (HPCSA) as well as the South African Speech- Language and Hearing Association (SASLHA).