International Community School of Addis Ababa

Social-emotional learning is at the forefront of the Middle School Advisory program. Positive Action is an international curriculum that teaches self-management and responsible decision-making. Advisory meetings run 45 minutes at the start of school four days each week, with small groups that help students build connections with peers and a trusted adult. The focus of Advisory centers on promoting student wellbeing, gaining self-management skills, and taking ownership of their path to success through goal-setting. A focus on SEL is associated with improvements in academics and overall wellbeing.

The Department of Student Support Services includes Learning Support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Counseling, Evaluations, and a Student Transition Educational Program. Learning Support is offered in each section, with a learning support teacher in every grade from Early Years to Grade 5. EAL provides support for students developing their English language proficiency. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) with RTI identifies and addresses academic, emotional, and behavioral needs, providing Tier 1–3 interventions as appropriate. The school describes itself as responsibly inclusive and remains transparent about the scope of services offered.

EAL provides support for students developing their English language proficiency.

Counseling provides emotional and social support to students, as well as university and career guidance to help students plan for life beyond school. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is used to identify and address students' academic, emotional, and behavioral needs, with tiered interventions as required to support growth and wellbeing. The school is committed to supporting the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of students.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are prioritized to prevent harm to children's health or development, with safeguarding living up to a whole-community responsibility. Staff, students, and families are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the safeguarding handbook to identify and respond to concerns. Key safeguarding practices include a rigorous approach to suspected abuse, comprehensive community education, safe recruitment, clear reporting channels, and campus safety. There are clear reporting channels and confidential forms, with a dedicated safeguarding response team available to support the community.