Multinational School Bahrain

Multinational School Bahrain runs an inclusive Learning Enrichment Department with two teams: Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (ESL), to support students with a range of learning needs. Inclusion is a core, shared aim, with education designed to occur in regular classrooms whenever possible and to be differentiated to meet diverse needs. The Learning Enrichment policy emphasizes an emotionally and physically safe learning environment and encourages students to self-advocate so they can articulate how they learn best. Counsellors are part of the SENCO/Leadership Enrichment team, supporting student wellbeing alongside other SEND provisions. Teachers collaborate with the Learning Enrichment team to ensure appropriate accommodations and inclusive teaching across the curriculum.

The school offers a dedicated Learning Enrichment Department that provides Learning Support and ESL services, with a formal process for identifying and supporting students with special educational needs (SEN). The SEND framework identifies four broad areas: communication and interaction; cognition and learning; behaviour, emotional and social development; and sensory and physical needs. The SENCO leads SEND provision, monitors implementations, liaises with parents, and maintains SEN records. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is created through collaborative meetings involving the SENCO, Head of Department, parents, and teachers, with external professionals consulted when appropriate. Level 1 LEA provides intensive support with a modified curriculum, while Level 2 LEA offers year-level support with some withdrawal from core subjects. The school emphasizes an inclusive model rather than a standalone specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is part of the Learning Enrichment policy and is implemented through the ESL component of the department, including an ESL assessment framework and an IEP for ESL students. The school's Learning Enrichment structure explicitly includes ESL as one of its two departments, ensuring EAL needs are addressed within the mainstream curriculum. Admissions and assessment processes consider language needs, with referral to the Head of Learning Enrichment when appropriate. The School Fees Structure confirms EAL support available through Level One (10 sessions per week) and Level Two (6 sessions per week) per term for Years 2–11. ESL provision is integrated with ongoing reporting and progression processes related to ESL.

The Learning Enrichment Policy states that all students should experience an emotionally and physically safe environment and highlights the importance of student self-advocacy in meeting individual learning needs. Counsellors are explicitly part of the SEND and wellbeing support structure, reinforcing access to mental health and wellbeing assistance. The policy emphasizes collaboration among teachers, the LEA, and parents to support wellbeing and ensure appropriate interventions. Safeguarding practices further underpin student wellbeing, with trained staff and a designated safeguarding framework to protect students' welfare. The school's safeguarding leadership (designated safeguarding lead and safeguarding team) and related policies provide formal channels for prioritising mental wellbeing and safeguarding concerns.

The Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy states a moral responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment and that all staff are trained in safeguarding best practices, with actions taken to protect children. Safeguarding is treated as paramount, with everyone having a role in recognizing concerns and escalating them when needed. The policy aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, grounding its procedures in established UK-derived safeguarding guidance. Key personnel include the Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding team, with clearly identified roles and contact details. The policy provides clear steps for handling disclosures or concerns, including urgent referrals to statutory services when necessary, and lists local contacts such as the Bahrain Child Protection Centre and Child Helpline.