Autism schools in South Africa: Complete list of institutions for kids with autism
Awareness of autism is on the rise globally due to more accurate diagnoses and changing perceptions. According to a recent study, about 1 in 88 South African children receives an autism diagnosis. These children require special care; hence, information on autism schools in South Africa is crucial.
Source: Facebook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Are there schools for autistic children?
- Autism schools in South Africa
- 18. Johannesburg School for Autism
- 17. Vera School for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 16. Quest School
- 15. The Key School
- 14. Boland School for Autism
- 13. UNICA School for Autism
- 12. The Browns School
- 11. Johannesburg Hospital School
- 10. Amazing K Therapy & Remedial Academy
- 9. Tamarisk Special School for Autism
- 8. Al-Noor Centre for Autism
- 7. Footprints Preparatory School
- 6. Wandsworth School
- 5. Centre for Autism Research and Education
- 4. Open Air School
- 3. Randburg Clinic School
- 2. S.N.A.P Durbanville
- 1. The Star Academy
- What are the autism school in Limpopo?
- What school is best for an autistic child?
- Do I have to send my autistic child to school in South Africa?
- Does autism count as a disability in South Africa?
Key takeaways
- Autism is a developmental disorder caused by differences in the brain.
- There are several Autism schools in South Africa offering specialised learning for children with ASD.
- Some of the best schools include The Star Academy SA, Centre for Autism Research & Education and Footprints Preparatory School.
Are there schools for autistic children?
There are therapies geared to enable children with autism to improve their social and interactive skills so that they can achieve developmental milestones and independence.
Children diagnosed with the disorder should attend special schools focusing on their developmental curriculum. These schools also have special facilities to assess the learners' ability to grasp concepts.
Autism schools in South Africa
Below are some great schools for autistic children in South Africa. These schools have great reviews and facilities.
| Rank | School | Location |
| 1 | The Star Academy SA | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 2 | S.N.A.P Durbanville | Cape Town, South Africa |
| 3 | Randburg Clinic School | Randburg, South Africa |
| 4 | Open Air School | Berea, South Africa |
| 5 | Centre for Autism Research & Education | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 6 | Wandsworth School | Randburg, Gauteng |
| 7 | Footprints Preparatory School | Randburg, Gauteng |
| 8 | Al-Noor Centre for Autism | Vereeniging, Gauteng |
| 9 | Tamarisk Special School for Autism | South Hills, Johannesburg South |
| 10 | Amazing K Therapy & Remedial Academy | Northwold, Johannesburg |
Finding the right school for your child with autism can be tough. But understanding top schools in South Africa helps. Each school offers something different. The Star Academy SA focuses on development.
The Centre for Autism Research & Education focuses on research. The key is finding the best fit for your child’s needs. Below are the best institutions including autism school's fees.
18. Johannesburg School for Autism
- Location: 13 Joubert St, Braampark, Johannesburg
- Fees: R23,900
- Contacts: 011 484-9608 / 082 556 2438/principal@jhs4autism.co.za
The Johannesburg School for Autism is one of the government autism schools in Johannesburg. It is one of the largest public special schools in South Africa offering specialised services to more than 300 learners aged between 3 to 20 years. Learners are enrolled through the Department of Education District Office.
17. Vera School for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Location: Rondebosch East, Cape Town
- Fees: Public (receives subsidy from government)
- Contacts: 021 696 2844/info@vera.co.za
The Vera School for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rondebosch East is the oldest of the five government schools for autism in South Africa. It functions under the auspices of the Western Cape Education Department.
Besides learning, the schools offer regular workshops to parents, teachers and professionals from various fields.
16. Quest School
- Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
- Fees: Unavailable
- Contacts: 27 41 581 0964/admin@questschool.co.za
Quest School in Port Elizabeth is the only state school in the Eastern Cape for autistic children. It accommodates pupils between 6 and 18 years. It also has a hostel for learners outside the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
Besides education, Quest School welcomes families with autistic children to approach the institution for assistance with an assessment, and applicants should apply through the Education Department.
15. The Key School
- Location: Parktown, Johannesburg
- Fees: R6800 per month
- Contacts: 0825556412/admin@thekeyschool.co.za
Established in 1975, the Key School is the oldest school in Johannesburg to offer learning services and therapeutic intervention to children with autism. The institution employs AAC, a specific assistive technology that promotes independence.
Source: Facebook
14. Boland School for Autism
- Location: 26 Nantes St, Lemoenkloof, Paarl
- Fees: R3400 per month
- Contacts: 084 610 9005/021 870 1430 /bolandautism@bolandautism.org.za
Founded in September 2009, Boland School for Autism is an autism-specific school offering specialised education to learners and continuous training to staff members to render the best quality of service.
The school also has occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, skilled psychologists, kinder kineticist and social workers to support the course.
13. UNICA School for Autism
- Location: Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria
- Fees: R24,840 per year
- Contacts: (012) 460-6539 or 346-1103/admin@unicaschool.co.za
UNICA School for Autism is a public institution and one of the autism schools in Pretoria. It offers affordable and specialised education to learners aged between 3 and 18 years.
It has a capacity of 107 learners annually. UNICA School believes in the learner's worth, uniqueness and dignity; hence, it strives to provide quality and structured education and training.
12. The Browns School
- Location: Providence, Rhode Island
- Fees: R23,900 per year
- Contacts: +27 31 700 3535/browns@brownsschool.co.za
The Browns School started as an educational facility for cerebral palsied children in Durban and was one of the special needs boarding schools in South Africa. It was transferred to the KwaZulu Natal Department of Education in 1964 and later moved to Pinetown in 1968.
Today, the institution caters for 375 pupils by providing holistic development and is one of the special needs boarding schools in South Africa.
The Browns School serves three groups, the cerebral palsied child, the autistic child and a section catering to the learning-disabled child.
11. Johannesburg Hospital School
- Location: Parktown, Johannesburg
- Fees: No school fees
- Contacts and website: 27-11-643-3050/www.johannesburghospitalschool.co.za
The Johannesburg Hospital School caters for children with developmental disorders like autism, aged between 3 and 18 years. It is situated along 13 Joubert Street Extension, Braamfontein Johannesburg.
10. Amazing K Therapy & Remedial Academy
- Location: Northwold, Johannesburg
- Fees: R4,500 to R9,000 per month
- Contacts: +27832305880/ilse@amazingk.co.za
Founded in 2014, Amazing K is an evolving registered ECD and partial care centre for special learners aged between 2 and 7 years. It has a teacher/therapist-to-child ratio of 3:1, 4:1 or 6:1. It also places tutors in homes and offers online tutoring services for children with special needs.
Amazing K Therapy & Remedial Academy also has a therapy centre to enroll students and outpatients. It offers speech therapies and workshops to help teachers and parents understand how to deal with autistic children.
9. Tamarisk Special School for Autism
Source: Facebook
- Location: South Hills, Johannesburg South
- Fees: Public
- Contacts: +27 11 623 5026/ info@tamariskas.co.za
Are you within Johannesburg and are wondering, are there any autism schools near me? Worry not. Tamarisk Special School for Autism is a special needs public educational facility in Johannesburg. It has a capacity of 60 learners and ten teachers.
8. Al-Noor Centre for Autism
- Location: Vereeniging, Gauteng
- Fees: R8,500 per month
- Contacts: +27 (0) 84 736 2187/ al.noorcentreforautism@gmail.com
Al-Noor Centre for Autism is a private day school based in Vereeniging, Arconpark. It provides an optimal environment for delivering holistic education aimed at enhancing the independence of autistic learners. Al-Noor Centre for Autism caters to learners aged between 3 and 14 years.
7. Footprints Preparatory School
- Location: Randburg, Gauteng
- Fees: R12,900 per month
- Contacts: 011 7910062/011 915412/083 4577382/hyperbarictank@gmail.com
The Footprints Preparatory School is a special needs school with a capacity of 59 learners aged between 5 and 18 years. The school is also equipped with a committed team of staff members trained to work with learners diagnosed with:
- Cerebralpalsy
- Human impairment
- Autism
- ADHD
- ADD
- severe epilepsy
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Source: Facebook
6. Wandsworth School
- Location: Randburg, Gauteng
- Fees: Unavailable
- Contacts: 011 793 6310/073 795 5672/admin@wandsworthschool.co.za
Located in Randburg, Wandsworth School is special needs educational institution catering for children aged diagnosed with developmental disorders such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Global Developmental Delays
- Genetic Translocations
- Sensory Integration Disorders
5. Centre for Autism Research and Education
- Location: Orange Grove, Johannesburg
- Fees: R11,500 per month
- Contacts: +27 11 485 0335/+27 82 909 0054/info@thecarecentre.co.za
Located in Orange Grove, Gauteng, the Centre for Autism Research and Education is a holistic intervention centre founded in 2011. It is dedicated to the therapeutic developmental needs of children with autism.
4. Open Air School
- Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
- Fees: Unavailable
- Contacts: + 27 (031) 205 1277/info@openairschool.co.za
Open Air School is one of the autism schools in Durban. It caters to students with physical and visual impairments, and accepts those on the autism spectrum. The school offers therapies like speech, occupational, and psychological support.
The curriculum is adapted to meet individual needs. While not autism-focused, it provides a supportive environment for children with autism.
3. Randburg Clinic School
- Location: Kensington B, Randburg
- Fees: R1,800 per month
- Contacts: +27 11 886 1280 or +27 11 781 8936/admin@randburgclinicschool.co.za
Randburg Clinic School specializes in supporting children with autism and severe behavioral disorders. It offers a customized CAPS curriculum and uses individualized education plans (IEPs).
Classrooms are designed for ASD learners with visual aids and learning stations. The school emphasizes behavior modification and alternative communication systems.
Therapy dogs are used to support emotional well-being. They also have a Big Buddy system and a golf curriculum in partnership with Ernie Els for Autism. The school is a top choice for children with autism in South Africa.
2. S.N.A.P Durbanville
- Location: Durbanville, Cape Town
- Fees: Unavailable
- Contacts: 021 975 7224/reception@snap.org.za
SNAP in Durbanville, Cape Town, is a leading school for children with autism, offering personalized, one-to-one education tailored to each child's needs. It features integrated programs that support inclusion in mainstream schools and provides both in-person and distance learning options.
Source: Facebook
With parent involvement and specialized training, SNAP empowers families across South Africa to address developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges, making it one of the best choices for children with autism in the country.
1. The Star Academy
- Location: Waverley, Johannesburg
- Fees: No traditional school fees
- Contacts: +27 (0) 11 440 7796/info@thestaracademy.co.za
The Star Academy is a South African non-profit educational facility offering tutoring and support to children on the autism spectrum.
Its team designs each kid's independent education plan based on the Skills Curriculum. The Star Academy has branches in the following locations:
- Highlands North, Johannesburg
- Waverley, Johannesburg
- Fourways, Johannesburg
- Sea Point, Cape Town
- Mount Edgecombe, Durban
- Erasmuskloof, Pretoria
This list of autism schools in South Africa proves how much the government and private sector are beefing up the educational sector to ensure inclusivity. Parents are advised not to shy off from utilising these institutions.
Furthermore, the schools are specific that parents should acquire a diagnosis for their children before proceeding with the enrollment process.
What are the autism school in Limpopo?
Limpopo does not have any school dedicated to autism. However, New Horizon Special School is being considered as a designation.
What school is best for an autistic child?
It is not possible to know if a school is perfect for your autistic child. However, some factors you can consider when looking are qualified staff, evidence-based interventions and individualized learning.
Do I have to send my autistic child to school in South Africa?
Yes, South African requires that all children including those with autism receive education. Parents are legally obligated to send children aged 7 to 15 to for learning.
Does autism count as a disability in South Africa?
Yes, autism is legally recognized as a disability in South Africa. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are eligible for the same protections and benefits as other people with disabilities.
Finding autism schools in South Africa might seem like a challenge especially if you do not have enough information. The schools above have great reviews, diversified programs that promote individual development and qualified staff.
Briefly.co.za recently published an article on Most expensive schools in South Africa in 2025: Full list of schools and their fees. The South African education sector is quite vibrant, from primary education to secondary, college, and university levels.
Grade 1-10 education is compulsory, while grades 10-12 are optional. Like in many countries, education institutions are classified into private and public facilities, comprising some of the most expensive schools in South Africa.
Source: Briefly News
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