Learning Support
ISB is an inclusive school. We believe deeply in our mission to serve our diverse and globally mobile community to the best of our ability, and accept children with a broad range of learning and developmental disabilities.
Philosophy and vision
Our mission of everyone included, challenged and successful is one that we take seriously. There are many international schools who deny admissions of students who learn differently, but we fundamentally and firmly believe that inclusive educational programming has a value that enriches the whole community. People with disabilities exist in every nation and culture and we believe it to be our responsibility to teach all students that good communities value and educate all of their members. We serve students with a range of disabilities from mild to intensive given that we are sure to be able to meet their needs. We understand the complexity of providing support for students within this range and have a long term plan in place for offering what they will need. It is a particular aim of the ISB learning support department to create in-house teaming that will allow us to best meet the diverse needs of our student population by looking at their learning through different lenses and creating a comprehensive strategy to optimize learning. It is then that we can be sure that we have a full picture of students’ needs and craft our teaching, support services around individual student needs.
“Multidisciplinary teaming” is a well established best practice in the field. Within our team we have professionals with expertise in a range of aspects of learning including learning disabilities/dyslexia, developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, language acquisition and literacy, speech language/communication problems, sensory integration, motor and physical disorders, and exceptionality in the area of gifted and talented education. Presently we have limited support for students with emotional or behavioral needs.
Experienced Faculty
All learning support faculty are specialized within the field of learning support and work closely with classroom teachers. We expect all our mainstream faculty to be skilled in differentiation and open to co-teaching approaches. For this reason, we offer on-going professional development for our teachers, including co-teaching methods, inquiry-based teaching, and teaching content and process as a way to meet the needs of various learners.”
Each school division has its own learning support team, and the school-wide programme is coordinated by the Head of Learning Support, Kristen Pelletier. We provide the full spectrum of learning support, which includes:
Mild Support
Provided by trained professionals in a balanced service delivery model of small group or in class support.
Moderate Support
A programme through which children with more specialized needs are supported through a combination of co-taught and small group support in conjunction with the appropriate therapies.
Intensive Support
Four Special Education classrooms, for children with cognitive or developmental disabilities, one for children each division. These students work with a small team of specialized professionals and with other mainstream teachers. They are supported through unique opportunities in adaptive music, therapeutic horse-riding, adaptive physical education, and are members of our Special Olympics team. As their graduation approaches, there is an emphasis on life skills and in vocational studies to prepare for a successful life after ISB.
Download the Learning Support brochure
Support Services
We work in close collaboration with specialists to offer targeted interventions through therapies and consider these services fundamental within a balanced programme for students who require learning support.
These services are coordinated by ISB and are delivered during the school day at additional charge to parents.
Occupational Therapy (PDF)
Speech Language Therapy
