Understanding a Differentiated Curriculum for Special Needs Pupils in South Africa
Understanding a differentiated curriculum for special needs helps parents see how learning can be reshaped to fit a child, not the other way around. At Unity College in Chartwell, Johannesburg, we follow the DCAPS curriculum, which is the recognised framework for pupils who need practical skills through thoughtfully adapted learning.
What a Differentiated Curriculum for Special Needs Looks Like Under DCAPS
CAPS vs DCAPS is best understood by purpose. CAPS sets the national academic standard for mainstream schooling. DCAPS (the Differentiated Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) is South Africa’s curriculum for special schools serving pupils with intellectual disabilities and significant developmental delays. It prioritises functional numeracy and literacy and real-world competence like personal care, communication, money skills, safety, travel training, and vocational exposure. Around 80% of the learning is hands-on, while only about 20% is pen-and-paper-based work. This aligns with the inclusive education policy South Africa implements to provide support for pupils with barriers across the system.
Parents often ask about DCAPS learning outcomes, which focus on functional English, Mathematics, and Natural Science, alongside life skills and work readiness. The emphasis is on mastering everyday tasks, handling social settings with confidence, and living a safe, semi-independent life. Because curriculum adaptation for disabilities is built in, the pace and expectations are both flexible and realistic.
How Unity College Implements DCAPS to Achieve Real Progress
Unity College has decades of experience with DCAPS implementation in schools. We keep classes small, with teacher assistants in the Early Intervention, Junior, and Intermediate phases, so special needs classroom planning stays responsive and calm. Every pupil has an Individual Development Plan (IDP), reviewed every six months, which anchors goals, accommodations, and special education assessments, which are continuous and developmental rather than one-off exams.
Our teachers use special needs teaching strategies to translate skills gained in the classroom into daily life. Guided by DCAPS teacher guidelines, we design DCAPS subject adaptations that make core subjects meaningful, such as reading a recipe while measuring ingredients, counting change in a tuck shop simulation, or following multi-step instructions on campus jobs.
In the Senior Phase, Unity offers two streams. The Academic (Vocational) stream follows DCAPS and may include Independent Examination Board Adult Education and Training (IEB AET) assessments for pupils ready for external certification. The Life Skills stream is skills-heavy and theory-light, preparing pupils for independent living.
At Unity College, we communicate clearly with parents, align school routines with home priorities, and celebrate growth. Group therapy is part of the school week, and private therapy is available on campus, offering support in working towards individual goals aligned with the IDP.
Unity College welcomes a wide range of neurodiverse pupils and provides steady support for pupils with barriers, including:
- Autism
- Down Syndrome (T21)
- ADHD
- Cerebral palsy
- Spina bifida
- Prada-Willi syndrome
- Epilepsy
- Cochlear implants
- Impaired vision
- Foetal alcohol syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome
- Angelman syndrome
- Global developmental delays
- Perinatal Hypoxia / Birth Asphyxia
- Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in childhood
- 9P Deletion Syndrome
- Hydrocephalus
If you are seeking a school where the differentiated curriculum for special needs is lived, not just promised, we would like to meet you. Contact us today for more information.