Integration

The theory of integrating children with special needs into a regular framework is not new, but is seldom put into practice to the extent seen in Reishit, which has proven to be one of the greatest successes in Israeli special needs education. The key to their success is that rather than providing an institutional environment meeting the physical and/or psychological needs of such children, Reishit provides a tailor made program to meet the needs of each child within a regular educational environment. Apart from fostering understanding and tolerance in all children at the school, it also focuses on bringing the special needs child closer to the mainstream and allows them to build the skills they need to achieve a high level of independence or even to return them to mainstream education.

The regular education is similarly innovative in that it focuses on the enjoyment of creativity and the abilities of each child to both learn and contribute within a framework based on Judaism, its values and texts. This combination of integrated special and regular education with an original approach to the syllabus and teaching methods is unique in Israel.

Today nearly 200 children attend the school, of which approximately one quarter have special needs. Children often arrive at Reishit having previously attended schools or institutions that were unsuitable, ineffective or even counterproductive. Whether it be cognitive, learning, or communication disabilities (including Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, autism) children are all accepted into the Reishit program and join the regular classes with children their own age. Where they may have “fallen between the cracks” in the education system or been offered medication as a solution, Reishit offers them an alternative.

The school today consists of 7 classes from 1st to 4th grade together with the older children who joined the special needs program before the regular 1st grade intake began. This latter group of 20 teenagers focus more on vocational than academic activities but as well as tending their animals and their gardens, they lend a hand in the education and instruction for the younger children.

Reishit is located in Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim, a rural setting approximately 20 km South West of Jerusalem. The tranquility and space that the kibbutz provides allows for a number of therapeutic activities which benefit all the children. These include a petting corner where the children are responsible for the care of the animals, a garden where the children grow vegetables and plants, and horse-riding. After-school activities such as music, singing, pottery, dance and film production are also organized for everyone.

The school is recognized by the Education Ministry and whilst some State funding is received for each student, it is not sufficient to cover all the school’s activities. Supplemental fees paid by parents and donations help meet the difference. The school is now planning for its future when it will cater for children up to 8th grade with 2 classes in each year reaching a total of 428 students of which 89 will have special needs. In addition a ‘village’ is planned to offer a permanent home to the graduates of the special needs program who require supervision but are able to lead a full life, working on the Kibbutz and for the school.