Amstelland International School

AIS prioritizes the well-being and safeguarding of all students. The safety and well-being of the children is the most important factor and all actions taken must ensure that the children are safe and secure at all times. AIS safeguards the physical, emotional, social and mental well-being of all individuals within the school community. The safeguarding criteria of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the International Primary School (IPC) are integrated into AIS policies. AIS has an External Confidentiality Representative and Complaints Commission, with a named External Confidentiality Representative and internal confidential mechanisms for reporting concerns; the safeguarding team includes key staff such as the Director & Safety Officer and Deputy Director, who can be contacted for support.

Differentiation is a common practice in AIS teaching and learning, with a commitment to meeting the needs of all students. The school believes that children have special rights rather than special needs, reinforcing an inclusive approach. AIS welcomes children of all nationalities, beliefs and cultures, and maintains a dedicated student support framework to assist diverse learners. The AIS Student Support Team provides targeted assistance to students as part of the school's inclusive ethos. The AIS safeguarding policy, including internal and external training and procedures, supports the well-being and inclusion of learners with varying needs.

English is the main language of instruction at AIS, and two official languages for AIS Primary are English and Dutch. An English Language Acquisition (ELA) program exists with ESL curriculum based on Cambridge International standards, including translation of lesson instructions into students' native languages when necessary to ensure access. English lessons total four hours per week across the school, with upper primary students receiving an additional three hours of targeted phonics instruction. Dutch is taught as a second language with two official Dutch lesson blocks per week, plus Dutch culture and Dutch-language components; an Extended Dutch Programme supports long-term integration. The language program is strengthened by Cambridge International Curriculum resources, including literacy instruction using a six-language-module approach and phonics support such as Letterland.

AIS is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, which includes physical, emotional, social and mental well-being. The school's safeguarding framework emphasizes the mental well-being of students as part of its broader welfare responsibilities. The Student Well-Being & Safeguarding policy outlines structure for action, staff training, confidentiality, and safeguarding contacts to support mental health and well-being. AIS maintains a multi-tier safeguarding setup with defined roles and contact points for students and families.

AIS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, with safe recruitment practices and background checks prior to appointments. The school has a formal External Confidentiality Representative and Complaints Commission, and internally AIS follows a confidential reporting framework with designated staff and safety officers. The safeguarding criteria of CIS and IPC are embedded in AIS policies. The safeguarding team includes the Director & Safety Officer, Deputy Director, SST Coordinator, Staff Council Rep, Confidentiality Rep and other safeguarding contacts, with direct email and phone details available for reporting concerns. An External Confidentiality Representative is Pepita David, and the internal safeguarding procedures include staff, team leaders and the Director as points of contact.