Taipei American School

Taipei American School supports students' social, emotional, and mental well-being through a comprehensive counseling model across Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Counselors deliver classroom lessons, small groups, 1:1 meetings, and family meetings to develop social, emotional, mental, academic, and multicultural competencies. The program emphasizes that student well-being is at the heart of the educational approach and fosters a sense of belonging, diversity, and ongoing collaboration between home and school. In addition to direct student support, TAS offers parent education events and workshops throughout the year. School psychologists and counselors promote wellness and resilience and provide appropriate supports and referrals as needed.

TAS provides Learning Support for students with mild learning differences (KA-12) and speech/language therapy (KA-12), with services designed to help students access grade-level curriculum. The Learning Support teams offer individual and small-group instruction, executive functioning coaching, and self-advocacy development, plus accommodations and alternative instructional strategies as identified by internal or external assessments. The school notes dedicated in-house educational psychologists (three) and a student-support team to assist learning, behavior, and mental health needs. TAS is not a specialist SEN institution and, per school policy, admits only students with no more than mild learning differences. Speech-language therapy is provided after a formal referral and evaluation, with services available across KA-12.

English Language Development (EAL) at TAS operates without a separate, fee-based EAL program for Grades KA-8, in a multilingual environment where all teachers support English language development across learning experiences. In Lower and Middle Schools, a sheltered immersion model groups students of varying English proficiency together to access the curriculum. Beginning in Grade 3, curriculum expectations assume English language development is ongoing to access content independently. Upper School does not offer EAL support. All teachers contribute to language development, and there is no separate EAL program or fee for KA-8.

TAS supports mental wellbeing through counseling services and school psychologists who work with students across KA-12 to promote wellness and resilience. In Upper School, wellbeing lessons during Advisory address mental health topics such as anxiety, wellness, gratitude, and self-care, including related skills and resources. The counseling program emphasizes proactive planning, including life after TAS, and ongoing access to individual or group support. For mental health emergencies outside school hours, TAS directs families to the Community Services Center after-hours Crisis Line (0932-594-578) or the 24-hour Mandarin line (1925). School psychologists provide diagnostic evaluations and referrals to support learning and mental health as needed.

Taipei American School frames safeguarding as everyone's responsibility, with the safety and well-being of students as the school's highest priority. The school aligns with global safeguarding best practices, prohibits harm or exploitation, and maintains an inclusive approach for all students. A Schoolwide Safeguarding Lead (Zanthe Ng) and a safeguarding team handle concerns, with formal policies and procedures for reporting and safeguarding interactions. Policies include Child Protection, Suicide Prevention, Harassment & Bullying, Gender/Affirmation policies, privacy, and acceptable use guidelines, with ongoing staff training and parent collaboration. The school provides age-appropriate lessons on personal safety, digital wellbeing, and bullying prevention, and emphasizes confidential reporting and partnership with families.