Creating a Caring School A Guide for School Management Teams with Accompanying Toolkit

In response to the multifaceted nature of the effects of HIV and AIDS, the approach used in this guide is an integrated one. Those whose lives are affected may need to be supported in a range of ways. For example, learners may need the support of a physical nature, in the form of nutrition and medical care, but they may also require support with school work and psycho-social support. Whereas it may not be possible to offer a whole range of support services from the outset, schools need to consider a range of interventions and think about a phased-in or incremental approach to implementing these. This guide also acknowledges that it is difficult for any school to manage the number of social and economic challenges that present themselves on its own. External support needs to be sought. This requires the school leadership and management to develop strategies for harnessing assistance from a variety of organisations outside of the school. SAIDE therefore recognises the importance of school management building its capacity to set up networks of support as a method of achieving necessary external assistance.