Student Services
Supporting
Every Student
at ALS
At Advanced Learning Schools (ALS), we are committed to inclusive education, ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality IB education while receiving the support they need to succeed. Our Learning Support, Career & University Counseling, and Social-Emotional Counseling programs provide a comprehensive, student-centered approach that nurtures academic achievement, emotional well-being, and future aspirations.
Learning Support
Learning Support: Personalized Education for Students with Mild to Moderate Learning Needs
At ALS, we recognize that students learn in different ways and at different paces. Our Learning Support Program is designed to assist students with learning needs, ensuring that they can fully engage with the IB curriculum while developing independence and confidence in their learning
Key Features of the Learning Support Program
- Early Identification & Assessment: Teachers and learning support specialists work collaboratively to identify students who may benefit from additional academic support through classroom observations, benchmark assessments, and diagnostic tools.
- Individualized Support Plans (ISPs): Students who require additional support receive an Individualized Support Plan (ISP), which outlines specific strategies and accommodations tailored to their learning profile.
- In-Class Support & Differentiation: Learning Support specialists work alongside teachers to implement differentiated instruction, scaffolding techniques, and targeted interventions that allow students to access the IB curriculum without modifications to learning objectives or grading.
- Accommodations (Not Modifications): ALS follows IB inclusion guidelines, offering accommodations such as:
- Extra time on assessments
- Prferential seating
- Assistive technology (e.g., text-to-speech software)
- Breaking tasks into manageable steps
- Scheduled Breaks
- Manipulatives or assistive tools (calculators, graphic organizers..)
- Question Clarification
Collaboration with Parents & Teachers: Regular parent meetings and teacher consultations ensure that the support provided aligns with the student’s needs and progress is closely monitored.
Professional Development for Teachers: We provide training for our teachers on inclusive education practices, differentiation strategies, and recognizing learning needs, ensuring a school-wide approach to student success.
Scope of Support
ALS supports students with learning needs but does not offer a fully specialized program for students requiring significant modifications to the curriculum. We are transparent in our admissions process and work with families to ensure that ALS is the right fit for each learner.
Supporting Students with Diagnosed Learning Needs at ALS
At Advanced Learning Schools (ALS), we are committed to inclusive education, ensuring that students with diagnosed learning needs have access to the rigorous IB curriculum with appropriate support and accommodations. Our approach aligns with the IB’s philosophy of inclusion, which emphasizes that all students can succeed when provided with the right support, strategies, and learning environment.
Learning Support: Empowering Students with Individualized Strategies
The ALS Learning Support program is designed for students with formal diagnoses of learning needs, such as:
- Specific Learning Differences (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
- Speech and language processing difficulties
- Anxiety
- Physical Disabilities (e.g., Hearing)
- Executive functioning challenges
We ensure that these students receive appropriate accommodations while maintaining the integrity of the IB curriculum. Our goal is to build student independence, confidence, and academic success while providing the necessary support to allow them to thrive.
Scope of Learning Support at ALS
- A Support for students with diagnosed learning needs
- Individualized Support Plans (ISPs) based on formal documentation
- Classroom accommodations (not curriculum modifications)
- Collaboration with teachers and families to ensure student success
- Assistance with IB exam access arrangements for eligible students
What We Do Not Provide:
- A fully separate special education program
- Modifications to curriculum expectations or grading
- 1:1 full-time classroom aides
- Support for students with severe learning disabilities or complex needs requiring intensive intervention
Career & University Counseling
At ALS, we take pride in our dedicated and comprehensive careers and university counseling services, where students receive objective and impartial guidance to help them make informed decisions about their future. Our student-centered approach ensures that each career pathway aligns with the interests, aspirations, and values of both students and their families, helping them make realistic, well-rounded decisions. Our personalised support empowers students to confidently navigate their post-secondary options, ensuring a smooth transition to the next stage of their academic and professional journey.
Our Careers Guidance Program includes:
- One-on-one support for all students in Grades 9-12.
- Career assessments in Grade 9, utilizing tools like Myers-Briggs personality tests, Holland Codes, and platforms such as Unifrog, Bridge-u, and CIS.
- Raising awareness about how academic performance, behavior, and grades influence overall achievement, starting in Grade 9.
- Hosting university visits and guest speakers from KSA and across the globe to highlight available options for our students.
- Guidance and support on summer and winter programs at Yale, Imperial and Oxford, as well as extracurricular activities, to enhance students’ profiles.
- Support for Grade 10 students in choosing subjects, with career days, individual meetings with subject teachers and alumni, and career interviews to create a clear action plan.
- Guidance on applying for proficiency tests like IELTS, SAT, PSAT, and GAT for university applications.
- One-on-one consultations in Grade 11 to develop an action plan for Grade 12, with a focus on performance reviews, interview skills, public speaking, and written applications.
- Assistance with Grade 12 university applications, including support for platforms like UCAS, the Common App, and others.
- Help with documentation, such as transcripts, recommendations, personal statements, and essays.
- Ongoing liaison with university admissions and institutions after applications are submitted.
- Continued support for alumni after their applications have been submitted.
At ALS, we are committed to helping every student succeed in their academic and career endeavors, offering the guidance and resources necessary for their future success.
With over 16 years of experience in careers advice and guidance, Ms Samira Mohammed is a highly skilled and compassionate careers counselor from the United Kingdom. She has extensive expertise in various curriculums, including British, American, Saudi, and IB systems, and has worked across the Gulf for more than 7 years, gaining a deep understanding of the region’s cultural and religious contexts. As a CIS-qualified counselor, she is dedicated to supporting students in making informed career decisions while also promoting their well-being. Her personalized approach ensures that students receive the guidance they need to thrive academically and emotionally.
Social- Emotional Counseling
ALS believes that academic success is closely linked to emotional well-being. Our Social-Emotional Counseling program provides a safe and supportive space for students to develop self-awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
Key Features of Social-Emotional Counseling at ALS
- Individual & Group Counseling: Students can seek confidential one-on-one counseling for support with stress, peer relationships, self-esteem, and family challenges. Group sessions address stress management, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation.
- Well-Being & Mindfulness Programs: ALS promotes well-being through mindfulness exercises, mental health awareness initiatives, and stress-reduction strategies.
- Bullying Prevention & Conflict Resolution: We foster a safe and inclusive environment by implementing anti-bullying programs and restorative justice practices.
- Advisory & Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum: Our advisory program focuses on self-awareness, resilience, and coping strategies, equipping students with essential life skills.
- Parental Support & Workshops: ALS provides parent workshops on adolescent development, mental health awareness, and strategies for supporting students at home.
- Resources for Social-Emotional Counseling at ALS
- SEL Curriculum (CASEL framework, RULER Approach)
- Mindfulness & Well-Being Programs
- Peer Support Programs & Student Well-Being Ambassadors
- Confidential student support services available throughout the school year