Special Education Needs and Disabilities

The FS SEN Department works on the belief that early identification and intervention reduces the risk and intensity of children developing learning problems in future. Our objective is to support students with special needs such as

• Speech problems – delayed, unclear, stammering, etc.
• Physical disabilities – developmental, birth defects, hearing
• Behaviour problems – attention, hyperactivity
• Medical conditions
• Poor Social Skills

We also provide assistance to children who

• Lack readiness skills
• Have a language barrier which affects their learning
• Have no support from home
• Have adjustment issues, are shy etc
• Poor Motor skills
• Behavioural problems influenced by their surroundings

Our team consists of 1 special Educator and 2 qualified teachers who work in collaboration with the Class Teachers, School Counsellor, Coordinators, Co-curricular Teachers, Clinic and Parents. We provide support within the class room as well as through special remedial sessions based on the need of each child.

We have a resource room in the FS section as well as having two workstations on either side of corridors where the teachers work with the children on a one to one basis or in dual sessions. We respect the privacy of parents as well as students hence information shared is kept confidential and only revealed on a need to know basis. We liaison with outside agencies and refer children for psycho educational evaluations, speech, Occupational therapies.

In keeping with Al Salam’s vision to provide a holistic and inclusive learning environment, the school has adapted an education set up where equal opportunities are given to learners in a least restrictive and non-segregatory environment. The department consists of the School counselors, SEN educators and the Learning Support staff who function in collaboration and consultation with academic coordinators, co-curricular coordinator and the clinic.

Objectives

• To help every child realise their full potential, despite their limitations, whether academic, physical, social or emotional.
• To work together with key stake holders namely the parents/ guardians, staff and students for the wholistic development of every child.

Functions

To provide psychosocial support to learners with behavioural/ social/ emotional needs. This is done by working in close collaboration with the school counselor.

• To cater to learners with sensory and physical needs and ensure that those with deficits are given the necessary modifications in Physical Education and Music. Close collaboration is kept with the Co- curricular Department to ensure the learners’ gross motor physical and sensory deficits are not ignored and that these learners have equal access to these co-curricular subjects just like their other peers.
• To assist learners with specific learning difficulties. These include those with dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. Support is given through establishment of IEPs where required and giving extra sessions of tutorials to assist students with their academic challenges.
• To support learners with communication needs i.e. speech and language deficits for example lisping and other challenges including poor communication and social withdrawals emanating from Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• To consult the school’s medical team who in turn will give day to day support for SEN students with illnesses e.g. Diabetics.
• To identify gifted and talented learners to nurture and groom their exceptional abilities and talents. The department works with the co-curricular department for assistance in nurturing identified talents.
• To identify and internally assess SEN learners in accordance to the school’s SEN policy.
• To refer students with identified challenges for external assessments i.e. educational psychologists, Speech therapists etc.
• To partner with other organizations in order to share , acquire more information related to SEN issues.
• To hold workshops with learning support and class teachers on SEN education issues.
• To offer support to learners from special schools who visit our school for temporary inclusion.