About us
In 2020, a review of support services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Kathu revealed a clear gap: many neurodiverse children aged 0–18 did not have access to the specialised education and support they require, as mainstream schools in the Northern Cape are often not equipped to meet their unique learning needs.
To help fill this gap, Sprout Academy opened its doors in 2022 with just six learners and a big vision — to provide personalised, community-based education and support tailored to each child’s strengths and challenges. Today, the school has grown to support close to 40 learners, reflecting both the rising need for specialised education and the trust families place in our approach.
In 2024, the organisation proudly received its NPC and PBO registrations, strengthening its commitment to serving families and expanding access to quality support for neurodiverse children. We are also registered as an independent school at the Department of Education.
Our mission is simple: NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND!
Sprout Academy currently accommodates neurodiverse learners between the ages of 3 and 16 and offers the CAPS curriculum from Grade RR to Grade 7.
The school has strong potential for future growth, with plans to expand to Grade 12 as infrastructure development allows.
Our Goal
Our goal is to provide personalised, locally based support that truly meets the needs of neurodiverse children, young people, and their families — starting from the earliest stages of development. At Sprout Academy, we create a nurturing learning environment where every learner feels safe, happy, accepted, and included, and where teaching is adapted to their unique strengths, challenges, and pace.
We strive to equip each child not only with academic skills, but also with practical life skills, confidence, and independence, so that they can reach their full potential and grow into adults who are able to participate meaningfully in their communities and in the world of work.
Our values
What We Offer
What We Offer
Meet Our Team
Stories of Hope & Growth
Sprout Academy has changed our lives. Our daughter was in a pre-school in Kathu but they could not accommodate her. Sprout Academy opened their doors to her and she has excelled at their institution. Our daughter has become more independent, her vocabulary has expanded and we can see that she is truly happy at Sprout Academy. My wife and I both work full time and the aid with the development of our daughter is greatly appreciated. We could not have done it without Sprout Academy.
Sprout Academy came as a huge blessing, as there were no schools focusing on children with special needs when we relocated to Kathu. We were quick to realise that we weren’t the only parents with this need.I think the rapid growth of the school speaks for itself.
Alex is very happy at Sprout, and we can see a huge difference in his development since joining Sprout a year ago.
From the very first day Henro started at Sprout Academy, he came home a happy child. He is better stimulated, and his behaviour has improved so much that his communication and meltdowns have improved in the four weeks he has been at Sprout Academy.
If this is the progress we can see in only four weeks, it makes us as parents all the more certain that we made the best choice in choosing Sprout Academy as the place for him to grow into a person who is independent, productive, and able to make a difference—just as Sprout Academy has made a difference for Henro.
Ek weet nie waar om te begin nie. Sprout Academy het weer vir ons hoop gegee. My seun is op 3 jarige ouderdom met asperger sindroom gediagnoseer. Jandre het sy graad 1 privaat gedoen en toe begin met graad 2 by Sprout Academy begin. Jandre het ‘n baie groot verbetering getoon. Hy het maaitjies begin maak en hulle verstaan mekaar. Ons is baie dankbaar vir die skool met die regte opgeleide onderwysers. Jandre geniet dit en kan nie wag om elke oggend skool toe te gaan nie. Hy het ook baie meer selfvertoue gekry vandat hy in die skool is. Ek weet Sprout Academy help elke kind na sy behoefte so dat hulle hulself kan help eendag. Ons is baie dankbaar vir Sprout Academy.
Vandat Janko laasjaar begin het by Sprout Academy het hy baie verbeter in sy skoolwerk. Die personeel het baie uitgerig gekry met Janko. Nie eers die vorige skool kon hom so mooi leer so Sprout Academy nie. Ons as ouers weet Janko kry die regte aandag om sy doelwit te bereik en hy vorder goed. Weet Janko kry ook die regte onderrig daar by Sprout Academy. Het sover n baie goeie ervaring met Sprout Academy en sy personeel.”
Die skool is die eerste in sy soort in Kathu wat so doende veroorsak het dat kinders met die selfde gebreke kan onderig kry onder die selfde opvoedkundige in stansie dit het n positiewe uit werking op familie dit verhoed dat families geskei word. Hendré kom nou met sy eie soort maats inaanraking.
Sprout Academy was the answer to all my prayers. My boy is non-verbal autistic child. We needed a school for him that understood him and his needs. From day one he felt welcome and couldn’t wait to go to school in the mornings.
Op n jong ouderdom was daar reeds sterk aanduidings dat ons seuntjie anders was. Ons eerste en grootste bekommernis was ” n skool”. Een van jou grootste en belangrikste take as ouer is om te verseker dat jou kind die beste moontlike opvoeding en geleerdheid kry en wanneer dit onverwags nie meer so vanselfsprekend en seker is nie, voel jy dat jy alreeds gefaal het as ouer. Ons het gehoor van Sprout en wou dadelik meer weet. Met my eerste besoek daar was ek so oorweldig met emosies van opwinding oor daar hoop was en dankbaarheid vir hierdie dapper vroue wat met groot harte hierdie taak aangepak het om vir hierdie kinders moontlikhede te bied, geleenthede te skep en meeste van als, wat hulle met liefde en deurnis hanteer asof dit hulle eie kinders is. Dit was die normaalste anders wat daar kon wees! Die kinders was gelukkig en daar was lag ten spyte van hulle tekortkominge. Toe ons seuntjie gediagnoseer was met Outisme was Sprout vir ons die beste plek sonder twyfel. Die Skool het ons hele lewe verander. Ons kan elke dag ons kind aflaai en met n geruste hart gaan werk, wetende hy is op die beste moontlike plek waar hy kan wees, geliefd, gelukkig en veilig. Vir ons seun het n nuwe wereld oop gegaan, n plek waar hy gecelebrate word vir wie hy is, waar hy die wereld ontdek saam met kinders soos hy en onder leiding van n puik span. Ek kan werlik n lang lys opnoem van positiewe veranderinge in sy lewe en dit als te danke aan die voortreflike span van Sprout! Die skool is my n absolute baken van hoop, waar drome vlerke kry en kinders kan floreer.
