Admission for 2015 for 3 children. 2 with special needs | ExpatWoman.com
 

Admission for 2015 for 3 children. 2 with special needs

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 February 2015 - 21:25

Husband works in Dubai. I would like to join him with my three children in September 2015 when my youngest starts secondary school . The children are 11, 13 and 15. My eldest is currently in a specialist school for ASD. I would like to know how much time I will need to find suitable schools in Dubai. My youngest has been in a main stream primary in the UK with 25 hrs additional support. Will it be difficult to find schools with the same/similar provision in Dubai. The employment package includes education for 3 children but are special needs schools/provision an additional cost. ? I would like them in a UK curriculum based school. Thanks for anyone who can offer advice and point me in the right direction.

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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 March 2015 - 07:03
Hi, my son is high functioning autistic he had a shadow support years 10 and 11 at 45,000aed - this was not full time. I think full time is 65,000aed at our school GEMS DSO, I know they do take children who need support but don't know if they limit numbers - GEMS appear to be the most inclusive in my experience. Shadow was not qualified, but supported by the SEN team. They receive a very small salary, think the fees only just cover. Don't forget this charge is in top of tuition fees and all outside therapies, assessments will also be paid for separately. DH's company make no additional contribution on top of our sch allowance, which doesn't cover our fees. With regard to special schools from my own experience (know someone with a severely disabled child) I don't think they are any way near to what you might be used to in the UK I hope this helps, as someone said, inclusion is still a very young concept here in Dubai and at the time we moved DS was not having shadow support in school, all that was put into force here in Dubai. It is a struggle emotionally, however in our case it was worth our move, however Ds' difficulties are quite low grade compared to statemented children. Good luck x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 March 2015 - 00:26
Thank you everyone for replies. I had got the impression I might be too late to get them in for September 2015 but maybe this isn't the case ? Any idea how much extra tuition is. Son had 25 hrs 1.1 statement before he moved to sn school. (It was Additional support at mainstream primary). Youngest has severe dyslexia and dyscalculor has 15 hrs additional provision bought in by primary school. Is this type of provision of a qualified learning support assistant available in mainstream secondary ? Are there any specialist schools for ASD in Dubai. My son is fully mobile and can converse. His problems are more social and developmental. He is about 4yrs behind milestones in Ms education.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 February 2015 - 23:32
The extra fees are high and this does not mean you get a qualified shadow. WIth those age ranges, i would think very very hard about moving TBH.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 February 2015 - 21:38
Inclusion is still quite young in Dubai. Some schools are doing a good job. Yes, typically you have to pay on top of school fees for additional support. A full-time shadow or learning support assistant could cost you 6-10K a month. There is a Dubai Autism Centre but it has long waiting lists. There are lots of centres offering ABA based programmes for children with ASD, like the Carbone Clinic, but they are expensive.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 February 2015 - 21:31
You have a huge challenge ahead, my suggestion would be to contact Fiona Coutts an educational specialist, she will be able to give you honest and good advice on the way to go, I would not know where to start, outside mainstream here is difficult. Good luck x
 
 

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