Therapies

For children with special needs, attention to health must be an integral part of the care and education provided. Healthy and balanced rhythms of sleeping and waking activities are of fundamental importance. Work, both academic and manual, as well as recreation, are promoted with a clear therapeutic intention. Similarly, the meals are regular and orderly and based on an organic-biodynamic diet to maximise their nutritional value. In addition, specific individual and group therapies are offered to help individual pupils. These are recommended by the school doctor after a full assessment of each pupil at regular internal reviews attended by all those who work closely with the child. Therapies currently available include:

Individual therapies

  • therapeutic speech
  • eurythmy therapy
  • art therapy
  • rhythmical massage
  • physiotherapy
  • riding therapy
  • music therapy
  • play therapy
  • counselling
  • massage
  • hydrotherapy

Group therapies

  • 'listening space': movement therapy with music.
  • 'colour light': a display of moving coloured shadows with music and speech.

Medical care

All residential pupils are registered with the Camphill Medical Practice, an NHS practice linked to the Schools. A Doctor is on call during weekdays and daily surgeries are held, with home visits made at the request of the house-co-ordinator. Anthroposophical medicine, using homoeopathic and herbal remedies, is extensively prescribed to complement conventional medicines, both for childhood illness and for more chronic or developmental disabilities. Minor illnesses and injuries are normally dealt with by a senior co-worker. When necessary the doctor may, with the parents’ consent, refer a child for specialist treatment in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.