School, College and University Education in Ballito
Whether it’s pre-school, public school, private school or specialist education facilities you need for your child, Ballito on the Dolphin Coast has a wide range of school and teaching options available.
Words: Rae Dengler
Fast paced development in Ballito on the North Coast of Durban has spurned rapid growth in the residential sector. Although school facilities lagged behind for many years, recent developments include a variety of education options for pre-school, primary and high school phases as well as tertiary graduate programs.
Daycare, Playgroups and Pre-Schools
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ABC DAYCAREAges 8 months to 5 years. |
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| Small group classes (12 children) offering a loving, nurturing environment for learners. They follow the ‘Grow’ curriculum and operate throughout the year excluding public holidays and December holidays.Classrooms are air-conditioned, beautifully decorated and children have a playground set within beautiful gardens. 07h30 am – 5 pm (or half day option). Breakfast, cooked lunch and snack catered for.
Church Alive, 74 Zen Drive, Ballito Tel:032 946 0107. |
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ASHTON COLLEGE PRE-PRIMARYGrade 000 – R (Ages 4 – 6 years) |
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| Following the school calendars (government and private), ‘Ashlings’ receive stimulated learning within a well equipped facility with comfortable classrooms and extensive outdoor areas.Classes of 20 learners with a teacher and assistant.
Ablertina Way, Ballito Tel: 032 946 2096 |
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BALLITO BAY MONTESSORI PRE-SCHOOLAges 2 1/2 years – Grade R |
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| Follows the Montessori Education Philosophy where children are encouraged to follow their innate desire to learn at their own pace and interest. The school has 3 qualified Montessori Directresses and 3 assistants in groups of around 20 children. Classrooms are carefully prepared to encourage spontaneous learning through meaningful activities.
28 Robbins Road, Salt Rock. Tel: 032 525 7826 |
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BUGALOO BABIES DAYCARE3 Months – 3 Years (until potty trained.) |
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| A small playschool, owner managed and run with 8 children following a structured daily routine.Half Day program from 7 am to 1 pm running through the years with public holidays and December holiday close.
43 Hilary Drive, Ballito Tel: 078 924 0980 |
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BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES PLAYGROUP18 Months – 3 1/2 years |
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| Owner run and managed by Linda Sharp, this morning play group (7:15 am – 12:15 pm) loosely follows government school terms. Linda is a trained swimming teacher and kids are given swimming lessons 2-3 times a week during the warmer months.
7 Jacquiline Drive, Ballito Tel: 076 443 0860 |
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BUSY BEESAges 18 months – 4 years |
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| Registered with the Dept of Health, Busy Bees offers a happy environment for toddlers on the private school calendar. Operates from 07:30 am – 12:00 pm with part weekly options available. Children and parents love Busy Bees. Janette has one class with a maximum of 20 children with a ratio of one care-giver for each 7 children.
17 Hilary Drive, Ballito Tel: 083 983 2350 |
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CALEDON CRECHEAges 2 – 5 Years |
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| Operating throughout the year with a short holiday close down over Christmas and the New Year, Caledon Creche has small classes of just 10 children per class. Full day (07:30 am – 5 pm) or half day options available as well as part time options of 2 or 3 days per week.
Caledon Estate, Lee Barns Boulevard, Umhlali Tel: 082 449 3882 |
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CRAWFORD COLLEGE PRE-SCHOOLGroup 000 – Group 0 |
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| Operating on the private school calendar, with programs created for the first week of each holiday, the Crawford Pre-School has smaller classes of between 18 and 20 children in each. 07:30 am – 1:00 pm daily with aftercare available from 12:30 – 5:00 pm.
Watson Highway, Tongaat. Tel: 032 943 3684 |
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CURRO MOUNT RICHMORENursery and Pre-School to Grade R |
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| Set within large, well equipped grounds and facilities, Curro Mount Richmore offers private school education from nursery school up to high school. Qualified teachers and their assistants oversee a professional education program including cognitive thinking and memory skills, language, physical and creative development as well as an understanding of the world in Science and Technology and Maths Numeracy.Open from 07:30 am until 12:30 pm, an aftercare program is also available until 5 pm. The school follows the private school calendar and is closed over the holidays.
Mount Richmore Estate, New Salt Rock Road, Salt Rock Tel: 087 285 1671 |
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DESTINY KIDSAge 2 – 5 Years |
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| Small groups following formal learning themes with indoor activities, outdoor play, art, music etc. Professional teachers oversee all programs with a strong Christian ethic providing values to live by. Destiny is a private education facility at reasonable cost.Open from 07:00 am until 12:00 pm.An aftercare facility will be made available as required.
“DESTINED FOR GREATNESS.” See More about Destiny Kids Here… 6 Gourlay Drive, Ballito Tel: 032 947 2830 |
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DOLPHIN COAST PRE-PRIMARYGrade 000 – Grade R |
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| The lively little pre-primary school follows the government school holiday calendar but does offer privately run holiday care over the whole year (except certain dates in Dec/ January). Six classes with up to 25 pupils per class with opening times from 07:15 am – 12:00 pm, 07:15 am – 2 pm or 07:15 am to 5 pm.
Corner of Jacquiline and Hilary Drives in Ballito Tel: 032 946 2979 |
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ECO KIDSAge 2 – Grade R |
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| Running on the same calendar as government schools, Eco-kidz is an established pre-school facility within the Simbithi Eco Estate. Open from 08:00 am until 12:00 pm, the school does offer aftercare until 4:30 pm and 12:00 pm over some school holidays.Extra mural activities include Little Chefs cooking classes, Little Quavers (dance and music classes) and Super Stars for gross motor skill development.Although classes have between 18 and 20 children in a class, a full time assistant increases the staff to pupil ratio. A healthy snack is provided for the children.
3 Sneezewood Crescent, Simbithi Tel: 087 353 1784 |
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LITTLE ONES DAY CAREAges 0 – 14 months, 14 months – 2 years, 2 – 3 years |
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| Open from 07:00 am until 5 pm, Little Ones offers morning only, three quarter day or full day options for working parents. The school remains open throughout the year, taking only a short holiday over the December-January period.With just 45 children in the school, all meals are catered through the day and included in the rates.
Susan Avenue, Ballito Tel: 082 851 5386 |
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LUCKY FISH DAY CARE18 months – 4 years. |
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| Situated in Westbrook, near Crawford College North Coast, the Lucky Fish Day Care centre offers a softly structured program for children providing stimulating activities within a nurturing environment. Positive reinforcement encourages children to explore their individual potential while working with their unique skills, abilities and needs.
10 Acacia Crescent, Westbrook Tel: 082 896 8457 |
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PRESTIGE BABY AND KIDZ ACADEMY3 Months – 6 Years |
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| Babies (groups of 10 – 15 children) benefit from the care of a qualified sister/nurse and her assistant while older children (toddlers and older pre-school children) have a qualified teacher with an assistant in groups of 10 – 20 children.Baby Academy – 3 months to 15 monthsTiny Tots – 15 months to 2 yearsBuzy Beez – 2 to 3 yearsBuzy Beez Advanced – 3 years to 4 yearsPre-School – 4 to 6 years.Half Day or Full Day programs (with lunch and snack included) run from 07:00 am to 5:00 pm to allow busy working parents to juggle work and childcare with ease.
Palm Lakes Family Estate in Tinley Manor and The Quarter Boutique Centre, Ballito Tel: 083 616 0633 |
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SHEFFIELD BEACH PRE-PRIMARYAges 2 – 6 Years |
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| This private, registered facility has 3 classes for children in this age group, keeping the groups to between 15 and 20 learners. The school remains open throughout the year, closing only on public holidays. They have morning classes from 07:00 am to 1:00 pm but also offer aftercare to 5:30 pm.
68 Cuyler Road, Sheffield Beach Tel: 082 411 6201 |
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SO-HIGH METHODIST PRE-SCHOOLAges 3 years to Grade 0 |
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| So-High is the recognized ‘feeder’ school to Umhali Preparatory School, giving children a well founded start to their long school lives. They work on the government school calendar with no school in the school holidays. Open from 07:30 am to 12:00 pm for class, they also offer aftercare until 4:30 pm.Classes are large and lively, with 24 learners under the professional care of qualified teachers. Teacher education is important at So-High. Teachers regularly attend workshops and seminars to keep abreast with the latest educational development and return with these skills to the class. Education is based on Christian principals.
Methodist Church, Old Main Road, Umhlali Tel: 032 947 1587 |
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TEENY TOTSAges 3 months to 5 years |
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| Teeny Tots maintains an excellent staff to child ratio in all groups. They are open through the year, closing only for 10 days in June (with a holiday program available) and over the December- January holiday period. Half day or full day options are available with breakfast and 2 snacks served to the children. 07:00 am open until 4:45 pm and you have the option of a 2, 3, 4 or 5 day week.Baby Care: 12 children with 3 staff membersToddlers (Age 2- 3) has a group of 13 children with 2 staff membersRed Group: (Age 3-4) has 13 children with 2 staff membersGrade 000: (Age 4-5) has 13 children and 2 staff members.
Collisheen Estate (near Holla Trails) Tel: 072 208 6770 |
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Bloom Special Needs School12 Months to 00 (Age 5) |
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Bloom is a Special Needs School for children with a variety of diagnosis; Down Syndrome, Autism, Low IQ, Non-specified learning difficulties and children that are not coping in mainstream schools.Bloom aims to work at each child’s specific developmental level so that they can learn through growth and experience. The classrooms are structured in small groups where learners will have small group time as well as individual teaching time. Academic lessons, social skills training, gross and fine motor development and sensopathic experiences are incorporated into our daily programme to ensure personalities will grow and minds will expand.
Eden Village, Foxhill, Salt Rock. Tel: 083 456 9697 |
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TRINITY HOUSE PALM LAKES PRE-PRIMARYGrade 000 – Grade R |
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Primary School Education in Ballito
Umhlali Preparatory School is a former ‘model C’ government school with a vast supplemental staff sponsored by the Parent Governing Body. Places at the school are highly sort after and placement difficult to secure due to the high demand. Alternative options include various independent education opportunities – each with a unique ethos.
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THE BEACHES PRIMARY SCHOOLGrade 1 to Grade 7 |
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| Established in 2000, The Beaches Primary School offers the national curriculum in a small, independent school environment. Ideal for children who feel a little intimidated in the mainstream school environment, classes are small, the atmosphere a little informal but the standard exceptional.Teachers have been carefully selected for their vast experience and passion for children and learning.Where possible, broader avenues of learning are encouraged. Set within a leafy environment on the Braeside Farm Estate in Ballito, The Beaches continues to produce happy, well socialized children. Art, Music, Physical Education and Computer Studies form part of the school week, ensuring a balanced education opportunity for all.
” EVERY CHILD IS A GIFT AND EVERY CHILD HAS A GIFT.” Braeside Farm, Umhlali. Contact: Carolyn on 082 7395260 |
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ASHTON INTERNATIONAL COLLEGEGrade 1 – 7 |
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| Ashton is an independent school offering facilities from pre-primary to high school on the IEB syllabus. The school continues to grow at a steady pace, offering a high standard of academic education and a developing sporting character with a keen focus on cultural aspects too.The school is co-educational with a strong Christian Ethic.Classes are kept small, with 20 learners in a class and each teacher has an assistant for a 10:1 ratio of children to staff. Although the national CAPS program is followed, the broader work of the Cambridge International Primary Program is also incorporated.
“EXCELLENCE BELONGS TO THE ZEALOUS.” Albertina Way, Ballito Contact: 032 946 2096 |
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CRAWFORD PREPARATORY NORTH COASTGrade 1 – 7 |
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Crawford North Coast is a private school with an established reputation for excellence. Extensive grounds with modern facilities make this a popular education choice in the area. The school attracts the best educators in their respective fields with a strong emphasis on academic and cultural performance. Although the school has excellent sporting facilities, Crawford students tend toward the academic and cultural interests. “THINK, UNDERSTAND AND APPLY.” Watson Highway, Westbrook. Contact 0860 SCHOOLS |
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CURRO MOUNT RICHMOREGrade 4 – 8 |
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| Curro Mount Richmore launched in 2014 within the upmarket Mount Richmore Residential Estate in Salt Rock. The private (duel medium/ co-ed) school is geared to grow year on year, taking its learners all the way through to Matric in the future. The school has extensive grounds and superb facilities including state of the art computer and media centre, swimming pool and indoor soccer and hockey facilities.Classes are small and learner focused. Children are encouraged to do the majority of their work at school so homework obligations are light.
“EXPLORE AND EXPRESS” Mount Richmore Estate, New Salt Rock Road, Salt Rock. Contact: 087 285 1671 |
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TRINITYHOUSE PALM LAKESGrade 1 – 7 |
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| This private, independent school was launched in 2013. Forming part of the national stable of Trinityhouse schools, it offers an established education system with a Christian ethos. The team approach within the school encourages all staff members to share their expertise and experience, ensuring each child is known by all staff members.Although academic work is of a challenging level, children are also encouraged to pursue their skills and talents in other areas too.
” CHALLENGING YET ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT.” Palm Lakes Estate, Tinley Manor. Contact: 032 947 2030 |
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UMHLALI PREPARATORY SCHOOLGrade 1 – 7 |
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| This former ‘model C’ school has a rich history and committed parent body ensuring the highest standards in education. Well respected by the country’s most elite private high schools for the standard of sportsmanship and academic excellence emerging from the school, placements here are hard to find. Many will put their children on the school’s enrollment list many years before their admission.
“TOTIS VIRIBUS – Strive with all your might” Contact: 032 947 1065 See More about Umhlali Preparatory School… High School Education in Ballito
To date, Ballito does not have a public high school for local residents. Historically, Ballito residents sent their children away to boarding school for their high school learning. Michaelhouse, Hilton, Kearsney, Glenwood Boys High, Maritzburg College and DPHS are popular secondary school choices for boys, each offering superb sporting facilities and high standards of academic learning with boarding facilities. Girls enjoy excellent private school options such as St Mary’s Diocesan College in Kloof, Epworth, St Johns and Wykeham Collegate in Pietermaritzburg or Durban Girls High School.
The growing residential population of Ballito has stimulated the introduction of several private high schools in the area. Crawford College North Coast is the most well established high school while the newest schools are developing rapidly from their initial grade 8 classes which progress to the Matric level year on year. |
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Tertiary Education in Ballito
Based on excellent academic results, many Ballito Matriculants gain acceptance to the country’s highest institutions of learning at WITS, UCT, Stellenbosch, Rhodes University and others. Others travel daily in to Durban to attend lectures at Varsity College, Boston Campus and others. Ballito is now also able to offer Degree Qualifications at these local facilities.
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| More on Health and Fitness in Ballito | More info on Accommodation in Ballito |
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