Jumeira Baccalaureate School prides itself on its inclusive approach to education and our ability to support a diverse range of needs. We do this through supporting students of determination, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Gifted and Talented (G&T) and those who may require additional social / emotional support. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, nationality, disability or cultural background. We see the diversity of our student and staff population as one of our greatest assets, evident in being one of our school’s core values, and we make every attempt to give each and every student full and appropriate access to our IB learning programmes and to experience success in their learning and in life. Our goal is to support students through high-quality education, enabling them to be as independent as possible and to equip them with the skills to be successful, well-rounded individuals.
Early intervention is vital to us alongside a strong parent partnership, which is an essential component. Quality teaching is at the heart of our school along with collaborative support from our highly experienced Inclusion Team throughout all years. Careful monitoring and tracking of our students ensure positive outcomes for all as well as identifying if additional tailored support may be required.
Success for all is essential to us and we are aware that the IB curriculum may not be suited to all our students. We are pleased to offer the Inspire and Aspire Programs, ASDAN and BTEC programs as alternative pathways. JBS is also a Rahhal partner which provides a creative and innovative alternative to mainstream education – an alternative that brings out the best from within the community and recognises learning wherever it occurs. It is a platform that helps to integrate learning with life, and life with learning.
We work closely with outside agencies including educational psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists when students need more specialised interventions. These agencies work in partnership with the class teachers offering advice and guidance on adaptations that may be required. JBS also has a partnership with The Developing Child Center (TDCC) who provide a Speech Therapist and Occupational Therapist on-site for private therapies and to support us with the Inspire and Aspire Programmes.
For more information, please see our JBS Inclusion Policy. More information on each of the areas we support can also be found below or through contacting our Head of Inclusion and Wellbeing Bethan Williams at bwilliams@jbschool.ae.
Students of Determination and Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)
In order to support people of determination, specifically with regards to SEND, JBS aims to have a graduated response that ensures quick identification and the implementation of an effective support continuum. At Jumeira Baccalaureate School we believe in a holistic ‘whole school’ approach to the SEND policy and its practice to reduce barriers for students and enable them to access all aspects of the school. Further, we believe that an inclusive culture and mindset is an important area to develop for all students, parents and staff. For more information around how we specifically support with regards to SEND, please see our SEND policy.
- Highly Able: ‘Able’ students may be defined as those who have the cognitive potential to achieve academically at a level significantly higher than their peer group in the school, but below the threshold to be considered Gifted.
- Gifted: The term giftedness refers to ‘a student who is in possession of untrained and spontaneously-expressed exceptional natural ability in one or more domains of human ability.
- Talented: The term talented refers to ‘a student who has been able to transform their giftedness’ into exceptional performance’. Talented students will always demonstrate exceptional levels of competence in the specific domains of human ability.
We recognise that all our learners approach tasks in different ways and use the skills developed from our curriculum to further their learning. Within our student body, some demonstrate that they are capable of study that goes well beyond the expectations of their grade and age. At JBS, teachers use a wide range of assessment techniques to identify students with such potential. Highly able, Gifted and Talented students at JBS experience alternative curriculum and skills pathways, which seeks to build on the gifts and talents that they possess in order to prepare them for the next step in their education journey.
For more information around how we specifically support with regards to G&T, please see our G&T Policy or contact our G&T Coordinator Greg Joiner at gjoiner@jbschool.ae.
English as an Additional Language
English is the primary language of instruction at Jumeira Baccalaureate School (JBS), so developing proficiency in the English language is crucial to students’ success in all areas. To support students, JBS provides an EAL (English as an Additional Language) support program for identified students in PreK to Grade 10 as well as additional support where required for Grades 11-12. All EAL learners have a right to access the IB Curriculum (All the students have a right to access the IB curriculum regardless of the language they speak?). This is best achieved within a whole school context as students learn more quickly when socialising and interacting with their peers who speak English fluently and can provide good language and learning role models.
The aim of this EAL programme is:
- To help students communicate and express themselves in various social and academic contexts so that they are able to engage successfully when learning through the IB programmes. Collaborative learning and student-centred inquiry are key elements in all IB programmes from IB PYP to MYP, CP and DP.
- To encourage students to develop effective literacy habits and approaches to learning in English.
- To support work (learning) across subjects by developing a comprehensive understanding of linguistic and literary (a variety of) texts. Students need to access a variety of texts for information as well as communication (Information, communication, as well as reading for enjoyment). The learning of text conventions, accurate grammatical usage, academic vocabulary (proficiency) and research skills, as well as developing spoken, written and visual communication, are central to learning how to process and produce texts in all subject areas.
- To monitor the attainment and progress of pupils who may be at the earliest stages of learning English.
- To ensure that the cognitive challenge remains appropriately high and not be reduced because the English language demand has been reduced. EAL learners’ conceptual thinking may be in advance of their ability to speak English.
For more information around how we specifically support with regards to EAL, please see our EAL Policy.
Interested parents can contact our Admissions team (admissionsadmin@jbschool.ae). If you would like more detailed information regarding any of the above please contact our Head of Inclusion and Wellbeing, Bethan Williams (bwilliams@jbschool.ae).
