Inclusion is an act or practice aimed at improving access to and participation in learning for all students by identifying and removing barriers and proactively addressing each individual’s unique needs. It includes institutional changes, including consideration of the broader goals of teaching approaches, curriculum, and assessment. 

BIS supports the provision of inclusive education and welcomes all students without regard to exceptional ability or unique condition or special educational needs, provided that there are good prospects of meeting the student’s needs without unduly prejudicing the education and welfare of other students. BIS strives to provide opportunities for all students to be successful learners, and is committed to educating students with a range of abilities and needs who are able to benefit from the educational services available at BIS. 

BIS has the Learning Diversity, Inclusion and Counseling Team, comprising a full-time Learning Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, 2 School Counsellors, and one full-time Learning Support teacher, with part-time input from other BIS staff with experience of working in the diverse environment. This team works to assist in student assessments and evaluation of progress as well as the design of Individual Education Programmes (IEP), however they do not have all the professional skills required to cover all potential students, therefore external professionals may be required in some cases. In these cases, BIS will either recommend that parents organise such assessment themselves or that parents cover the cost of external assessment if arranged by BIS.

Services provided by the LDIC department include:

• The identification of specific learning needs through student observation and information gathering from teachers and parents and additional assessments;
• Preliminary assessments to determine areas of strength and weakness;
• Advising educators on the most effective ways to address the needs of the students in the classroom. Examples may include using various assessment techniques, facilitating students’ learning, and differentiating instruction and activities;
• Educating students and their parents about learning differences and how to work with them;
• Reviewing external specialist reports and communicating recommendations to enable teachers to meet the needs of students in the classroom. Some students may require the development and monitoring of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Student Profile (ISP).
• Helping children directly using a variety of methods, depending on the student’s requirements. This could be in-class assistance, pull-out assistance to work on a specific skill area, or mentoring (especially in secondary school).
• Helping teachers with professional development and parents with information on learning support difficulties.

If you have concerns about your child’s overall progress at school, please contact me, but do discuss your concerns with your child’s teachers initially as they will be able to answer questions about the student’s progress in their classrooms. A collaborative approach is the best way to ensure success for every child.