Student Services

All students are unique, however, some have individual needs that may impact their learning physically, emotionally or academically. Our inclusive approach seeks to reduce barriers to participation and to provide appropriate support across our three pillars: Learning, Enrichment and Well-being. We advocate a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of our students with additional learning needs, who are multilingual learners, have physical and/or sensory needs and students experiencing social and emotional challenges. Our Student Services team works together with Admissions, Pastoral Teams, class and subject teachers to support students.
We are careful to ensure that we can provide appropriate support for all our students. We take the time to consider whether our team can offer appropriate support for new students whilst maintaining support for our existing students. As such, we have limited places in the Student Services programme at each year level.
We are able to support students with a range of additional needs including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and autism. However, we are only able to support students with mild to moderate needs.

Applying to BISR
If your child has previously received support or has been educated in a non-English medium school it is essential that you provide as much information as you can whilst completing an application. This allows us to establish whether BISR is able to meet the needs of your child. If your child has significant educational, language or emotional support needs please contact the Registrar and the Director of Student Services before you relocate to Riyadh.
Students are accepted into the School providing we are able to put appropriate support in place and where, with this support, there are indications that the student will flourish within our curriculum and across all of our pillars. The School reserves the right to refuse an application where the student appears to have needs that cannot be met by the programmes currently offered. Each admissions application to BISR is considered on an individual basis.
The decision to admit an applicant with additional needs is made by the Leadership Team for the relevant section of the school in consultation with Student Services.

Our Student Services Team
The Student Services team comprises Support for Learning, described in some schools as learning support, English as an additional language (EAL), and Counselling.
Our specialist Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers work collaboratively with class/subject teachers and pastoral teams. Specialist teachers are supported by a team of Learning Support Assistants (LSA) and Intensive Needs Support Assistants (INSA). Provision will vary according the the size of the campus but may include:

In-class support
Individual and group interventions
Regular lessons with our specialist teachers.

Some of our students receive help for a limited period of time whilst others access support on a regular basis. A small number of students require daily, individualised support from our team of INSAs. This level of support is put in place after consultation with teachers, families and the school’s leadership teams. Additional charges are made for INSA support.

Our Journey with Parents
The Student Services Team aims to promote effective partnerships with parents. Ensuring that all students flourish and can be proud of their contributions and achievement is a priority and working together with families is key.
We aim to be honest and open with you about your child and their progress. Our team will keep you informed regarding requests for support, learning plan reviews and routine interventions. Support is provided for parents through the regular Parent Forums and workshops. Our specialist teachers are available at formal Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs) and Student Led Conferences (SLCs).

Counselling
Our Counsellors offer a specialised support service to help individuals understand themselves and others, explore relationships, develop coping strategies, and assist with specific issues such as conflict resolution, communication, problem solving, and decision making. This role closely complements the pastoral roles of the Class teacher, Tutor and Head of Year and works in close partnership with the Safeguarding Team. School counselling provides brief interventions that aim to help clear pathways to learning and are, as far as possible, goal centered.

Counsellors work to professional confidentiality standards. Conversations are private and confidentiality would only be breached in case of risk. It is important to recognise that students can only benefit from counselling if they choose this option and are invested in the process. It is the counsellor’s responsibility to ensure that the student’s rights to autonomy are respected in this process. Parental approval is required for Primary students to attend counselling, but using the Gillick Competency and Fraser Guidelines (1982), older students may make this choice for themselves.

Student Service FAQs

My child currently receives support from a Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist, can this support continue at BISR?

Support options, such as Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), are limited in Saudi Arabia. However, we are developing strong links with providers within the local community and we have an established relationship with a multi-disciplinary practice in Dubai. Please contact the Admissions Team if your child currently accesses regular support from any specialists outside school.

Can my child be supported by a private shadow teacher?

Is BISR able to support students with a UK Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?

UK Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) are valid only in the UK. As an international school, we are not bound to provide support in line with an EHCP. A move to an international school means that the Plan may lapse.

BISR may not be able to provide the level of support outlined in the EHCP so please contact the Admissions Team if your child has an EHCP. We will then arrange a meeting with the Director of Student Services to discuss your child’s needs in more detail.

My child has not studied in an English medium school before, can they access EAL support?

We are able to support students who are new to English, or have not attended an English medium school, in Foundation Stage or Year 1 as all learners are developing their language and literacy skills at this point.

For Primary applications to Year 2 and above we consider the length of time a student has attended a school where the medium of instruction is English before making an offer of a place. Students wishing to join Year 2 and above should have the appropriate level of English language (speaking, listening, reading and writing) to access the curriculum with minimal support.

For students wishing to join Senior School, Year 7 and above, it is expected that the student will be proficient in English and able to access the curriculum independently. They should also have been taught all subjects in English prior to joining us.

My child has examination access arrangements in their current school. How does BISR support Inclusive Access Arrangements for Assessment?

We ask that you inform us of any access arrangements your child has had during the admissions process.

Inclusive Access Arrangements are available in all sections of school. The Student Services team ensures that all staff are aware of the specifics for students in both Primary and Senior School. Details on which exams access arrangements are frequently included in reports produced by Educational Psychologists. We work with individual students to ensure that the correct access arrangements are put in place for each assessment and subject. For example, some students require extra time in assessments involving extended writing, but not in Maths.

We are very proud of our record of providing high quality inclusive Access Arrangements for our Senior students sitting GCSE and A-Level and IB examinations. Access arrangements are available for students who qualify according to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) or International Baccalaureate (IB) and who have an appropriate psycho-educational report which confirms the type/s of AA needed.

How do teachers refer students to Student Services?

We have a Support Services Consultation Request process that enables teachers to seek advice from the Student Services Team. Teachers should speak to parents before completing a request. The team then follows up through in-class observations, offering strategies and screening assessments. If additional support is indicated, Student Services will work with colleagues to put the provision in place.

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