How Dubai schools support students with special learning requirements
Though many parents are still struggling with enrolling their children with special learning needs in schools, this initiative comes as a relief for a few schools in the UAE that have decided to take a proactive approach to accommodate, and help, these students.
Some parents go the extra mile to ensure their child is educated even if it means overcoming a certain few hurdles and according to this regard, both Springdales School Dubai and GEMS Modern Academy are differentiated in opinion.
Admission is open, as it should be, to students of all abilities at Springdales. Every student must learn to be independent and confident, and we strive to create that adaptive learning environment, which is one of our methods in pedagogy, said Rashmi Virmani, section lead – foundation at Springdales.
The current school, which caters to 107 students of determination, also provides ramps, elevators, sensory rooms and speech therapy facilities.
Allowing students to work in a more inclusive environment
Inclusive education plans (IEPs) Enhanced learning support Individual attention and care Surrounded by peers with similar special learning needs Supportive environment Sawa — together in Arabic — is Springdales’ inclusion department, Springdales’ inclusion department, to support students with special learning needs to be successfully engaged in the school curriculum. The school is also intended to combine vocational training and life skills development, with a flexible offering of subjects to be provided to those who struggle with the traditional curriculum.
Rashmi highlighted the instance of an impressive student of hers with cerebral palsy, who started at her school in KG1. The student was wheelchair-bound and, as an immunocompromised child, needed special care.
Springdales said the girl was prone to infections and the school took "extra caution" by sanitising her place of learning and also restricting her from a crowd. Rashmi explained, “She was accompanied by a special person who traveled with her and when she needed assistance in the classroom, there was an attendant as well.
Due to the unsustainability of class-room streaming — and the decision to avoid reopening in-person — the school founded a stand-alone online programme, which still accommodates her education. She is now in grade 3 and doing so well virtually and the support from the teachers and parents has been amazing.
Personalised education schemes
The school also encourages active participation from the parents. Another parent, Shaanija Ashraf, recounted how her daughter, aged five, a victim of autism as well, felt comfortable here in a place that is not judgmental of such 'differences', having found it hard at other schools to fit in.
The school has been amazing with organising IEPs and strategies that are really so beneficial, she said. Now, Harris's daughter takes part in all sorts of programmes and events, never feeling excluded. She added, 'The diversity of the school has allowed her to feel as if she is a part of the school community.
In fact, for another student, Nimalan Jayaraman Banumathi, who joined Springdales in Grade II, he started doing well in school after the curriculum was customised to make him study the subjects that he liked the most.
The school has a history of struggling with language-heavy subjects and even replaced Social Studies and a second language with Painting and Computer Applications. Long-term Sawa department support enabled Nimalan to attain a Certificate of Merit in Computer Applications in his Grade 10 exams, and he subsequently decided to pursue a degree in computer science.
Significant progress
“He felt welcomed, appreciated, confident as all could participate. According to his mother, Dr Banumathi, the teachers were instrumental in understanding his specific learning needs and modifying the way they taught him, so that he flourished.
And just like Deepesh Narayanan — whose son is travelling the autism spectrum — the family moved to Dubai purely for his education. The family has seen major development in his learning journey since he joined Springdales, especially through his art and music. Deepesh also shared, “One of our very proud moment was when Dhyan was a part of the Annual Day Choir and was able to sing with his peers.”
He also did some community outreach, which also helped with his confidence," he said.
'They never give up on me'
Inclusion is also a cornerstone of the school philosophy at GEMS Modern Academy. The school is home to about 3,928 students, all of which cannot be turned away.
Dr Pashu Bhattacharya, head of Inclusion at GEMS Modern Academy, said: "There is no student of determination who will be turned away if there is space available and a school is equipped and able to meet the student's necessary support needs."
Not stopping at just inclusion, the school trains staff in Braille in order to support visually impaired students; it also encourages students to help each other learn through initiatives like Rafikis, where neurotypical students learn how to support their neurodivergent peers.
Another Grade 4 student summed up the school’s commitment: "The best thing I like...is that they will never stop believing in me."
Also in keeping with that, is the school’s motto around parent collaboration. Parents get a glimpse of their child’s progress through the Kaizen Open House that happens every term from the Open House that showcases their child’s progress in every term workshop to workshops and career guidance sessions that helps the parents plan their family’s future. Dr Pashu added, "This collaboration is all about communication and collaboration.
The successes of the students at the school show the school's commitment to inclusion. We have even had two students of determination who took the TEDx platform to share their stories of perseverance.
Bhattacharya concluded: "Inclusion at GEMS Modern Academy isn't just a practice – it's a commitment to giving every child the tools to reach their full potential and become an integral part of their communities."
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