Special Needs Students at AISL
Admissions Guidelines

AISL Special Needs Policy

AISL provides support for students experiencing mild Special Needs in accordance with the school’s philosophy and goals. The provision is guided by the Special Needs Policy with the principal objectives of the policy being:

• To provide individual students with the support necessary to achieve their full potential.
• To work collaboratively with teaching staff to ensure individual students needs are being met.
• To carefully monitor students educational and social needs.

The Special Services Department

The Special Services department implements the goals and objectives of the Special Needs Policy. The department is responsible for the provision of intervention, and progress review of students referred for Special Needs, as well as delivering specialist teaching. Special needs department staff work collaboratively with mainstream teachers, parents, and administrators, as well as with the ESL (English as a Second/Subsequent Language) department and the School Counselors.

The mainstream teachers at AISL have the capacity to differentiate within the mainstream classroom, and to provide learning experiences within an IEP (Individual Education Plan) developed by the Special Services staff. Within Zambia currently there are a limited number of external professionals with whom the school can consult. The school currently has links with an external Psychologist, Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Specialist.

The Admissions Process

AISL will consider applications from students with mild Special Needs. Factors such as, the student’s age, learning style, cognitive strengths, skills, behaviour and individual circumstances are taken into consideration when evaluating the extent of a student’s learning needs. AISL cannot meet the needs of students with severe difficulties that necessitate special considerations such as:

• Intensive remediation
• A specialized program and/or materials
• Physical therapies
• Intensive psychological therapy
• Psychiatric treatment
• Additional and specific safety facilities

In order for the school to ascertain whether AISL can provide the best educational opportunities for an individual student with Special Needs, it is important that, upon application, parents supply the Admissions Administrator with as much information as possible. This must include Special Needs reports, Psychosocial and Educational assessment reports, and/or medical information. The decision to offer a place at AISL is made by the school’s Admissions Committee and is based upon this information together with admissions tests if required..

Page updated 12 January, 2008