The Jumeira Baccalaureate School Inspire and Aspire programme (in consultation with The Developing Child Center – TDCC) aims to support children who have significant challenges being included within a mainstream school environment. Our intention is to:
- Support our core values of Inclusion and Wellbeing by providing children who may struggle to be in a mainstream placement with the opportunity to not only access an inclusive school environment with neurotypical peers but to feel safe, confident, and happy at school.
- Provide personalized support (1 adult to 2 children ratio and inclusion of occupational and speech therapy during the school day) to enable students to progress towards achieving their full potential and enjoying their time at school – be that in lessons, during their play or lunchtimes, or when involved in any of our school excursions and extra-curricular activities.
- Provide opportunities for independence, generalization of gained skills within a social situation, and to develop the skills and knowledge to build relationships with their age-appropriate peer group.
- Provide opportunities to transition into mainstream lessons where appropriate.
- Increasingly empower the wider school community with the skills, knowledge, and increasing expertise to support a wider and more significant range of children with additional needs.
- Continue to promote inclusion as being the responsibility of the whole school community, permeating all aspects of school life and applicable to all our students.
What is the eligibility criteria?
Currently, the Inspire and Aspire programme has three classes. Two Inspire Classes; Polar Bears KG2 – Grade 2, and Penguins Grade’s 3-5. Aspire has one class comprising of Grade’s 6-10. These classes are tailored to those who are not currently able to access mainstream schooling due to significant learning, communication, behavioural, or adaptive functioning needs. The following are some entry requirements in order to be considered for the programme (this list is not exhaustive, and each case will be viewed on an individual basis bearing in mind the needs of the current student cohort):
- Parents must be committed to having their child participate in an IB alternative curriculum pathway to work on closing developmental and academic gaps within a mainstream school environment to encourage generalization of skills.
- Parents must be open to alternative curriculums/pathways should it transpire that the child is not able to transition into the mainstream setting. This suggestion will always be made in the best interest of the child.
- The child must be toilet trained and be able to communicate basic needs (in any way necessary).
- Students will need to have basic verbal expressive skills or the ability to use symbols or Makaton to the level of being able to express needs and wants.
- The child should not display significant behaviours that may be a risk to themselves or other students.
How does it fit into the inclusive approach of Dubai and KHDA?
JBS wholeheartedly believes that successful and quality Inclusion provides all our students with the best chance for personal success while considering their wellbeing. The teaching and supporting of students of determination is a whole school responsibility and requires effective communication, and collaboration between all parties to ensure success. KHDA asks schools to take action to lower barriers to learning to improve a student’s learning experience. The Inspire and Aspire programme is our way of addressing an identified need within our student population and the wider community to adapt our provision in order to support students with more significant needs. Please see the JBS Inclusion Policy for more details on relative legislation and guidance specific to Dubai and the UAE. Please also see the JBS Inspire Programme brochure and JBS Aspire Programme brochure links here for more information on these programmes.
Interested parents can contact our Admissions team (admissions@jbschool.ae). If you would like more detailed information regarding any of the above, please contact our Head of Specialist Provision, Niamh Keegan (nkeegan@jbschool.ae).
