International School of Amsterdam

The health, mental health and wellbeing of ISA students is of the utmost importance. Every student should feel safe, cared for and advocated for. Lower School Counselling and the Learning Diversity (LD) teams provide support for emotional, personal, social and transition needs, in consultation with parents. The Personal, Social and Emotional Curriculum is delivered through counselling and integrated with Units of Inquiry. Upper School Counselling and LD teams work with students, families and staff to support wellbeing and transitions; student voice helps shape safeguarding and wellbeing initiatives.

Lower School Learning Diversity (LD) teams provide academic support during the school day based on need and specialist evaluation. The LD team offers general counselling for emotional, personal, social and transition issues. An Individualised Learning Plan (ILP) is developed for students with documented learning needs, outlining strengths, challenges, classroom strategies and accommodations. External testing and specialised support are privately funded by families and can include psycho-educational evaluations, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play and drama therapy, and tutoring. Assistance with external testing accommodations can be provided through the counselling/LD team.

English is the language of instruction. English Acquisition (EAL) support is available for students who join ISA with limited English. In Lower School, EAL is delivered in small groups or within homeroom until proficiency allows independence. In Upper School (grades 6-10), specialised EAL classes support listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and presenting; intake testing determines level (Elementary, Intermediate, Transition). Home Language development is supported through a Home Language Programme and a Lower School Language Academy; multiple languages are offered as part of the regular program and language policy guides development.

The health, mental health and wellbeing of ISA students is a central priority; every student should feel safe, cared for and advocated for. The Safeguarding Leadership Team oversees policies and practices to create a culture of safety, with annual child-protection training for staff. A designated safeguarding lead and counsellors support student wellbeing, with a Response Team formed around safeguarding concerns as needed. External helplines and mental health resources are available to students and families.

ISA adheres to ITFCP principles and standards set by accreditation agencies, with a safeguarding leadership team and safeguarding committee overseeing policies and procedures. Staff receive annual training in child protection and recruitment follows checks on identity, employment history, education qualifications, references and criminal background; these checks are renewed regularly. Child safeguarding covers protecting children from abuse, preventing harm, ensuring safe environments and supporting best outcomes, and includes education about rights and safety. The school follows the Dutch Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Reporting Code Act and uses a formal reporting code with steps to identify signs, consult with colleagues, talk with the student and parents, assess risk, and decide on actions, including reporting to Veilig Thuis when required (police involvement only in extreme cases).