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STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

THE IFS GAIN STRUCTURE FOR STUDENTS

At IFS we believe, whatever the difficulties, differences or disabilities, all students are entitled to personalised support. And so we strive to improve the schooling of students with special educational needs.

Inclusive education is an important component of the International French School (Singapore) (IFS) and the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). IFS is one of the few institutions overseas that has a structure in place dedicated to students with special educational needs.

IFS is one of the only schools among international schools in Singapore and in the AEFE network in having a learning support structure on site: the Groupe d’Accompagnement et d’Inclusion (GAIN). Students with special needslearning challenges and even gifted students may benefit from this individual and customisable system.

Being able to welcome all students regardless of their difficulties is one of IFS aims. We look to prevent and reduce learning and relational difficulties that students may encounter, by providing specific guidance to teachers and parents. Students with disabilities and/or specific learning needs can benefit from the specific support schemes IFS offers, particularly through the in-school GAIN structure.

At the school itself, IFS has specialised teachers who help students with academic and/or personal problems while keeping them in regular classes.

Depending on your children’s needs and situation, different projects at different frequencies can be arranged for them.

For more difficult or complicated situations, children with high order disability or significant disorders, GAIN supervises and coordinates the deployment of an AESH (ex AVS), a person who assists and supports the student on a daily basis within the framework of a Customized Schooling Project (PPS).

For specific learning disorders (“dys” disorders), a Personalized Caring Program (PAP) can be set up.

The GAIN team

The GAIN team is composed of specialized teachers and school psychologists.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS: FOR TPS CM2 & 6ÈME – TERMINALE

Two psychologists work at IFS, one for students from N1 to Grade 5, and one for students from Grade 6 to 12. These trained professionals provide a confidential space for talking and listening. Conducting individual and confidential meetings with the students and/or parents from Kindergarten to Terminale (Grade 12). The school psychologists assess the needs and demands of students and help determine the best cause of action e.g. referrals to external consultants and counsellors. They not only intervene when the issue concerns academic studies but also when it is about individual personal matters.

SPECIALISED TEACHERS (MAÎTRES E): CP TO CM2 & SECONDARY

IFS has three specialized teachers, two for Elementary school (Grade 1 to 5) and one for Secondary school (Grade 6 to 12). Specialist teachers work in groups of 3 to 6, with students who show learning difficulties. Unlike private tuition, the specialised educators help to set cognitive strategies for the students and to support them in the acquisition of skills necessary to perform in school.

LEARNING SUPPORT SPECIALIST (MAÎTRE G)

Our Learning Support Specialist work one-on-one with students having difficulties adapting to the school environment or having difficulties becoming active engaged learners. This position works with students for whom reinforcement of pedagogical exercises, encouragement or support methods have not been sufficiently effective tools despite normal intellectual abilities and an absence of specific learning disabilities.

The Learning Support Specialist also works with and motivates high-potential and gifted students. Individual meetings are set up to help build or restore the desire to learn, but also to consolidate the student’s self-esteem.

To achieve this, he uses games, drawing, psychomotor skills as mediums to restore or create the desire to learn.

For pupils with special educational needs, for which inclusive schooling paths need to be set up, there are different educational facilities defined by the Education Code: PAI (individualised welcome project), PPRE (Personalised Educational Success Program), PAP (personalised support plan) and PPS (personalised project of schooling).

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