Student Support

JAIS is an inviting and nurturing community where we welcome students with a range of abilities, learning styles, and interests. We do this through our English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, Inclusion Needs support, our Advisory Program, and connecting with support throughout Jerusalem. 

Class sizes are small and staff ratios are high.  The learning opportunities are based on a UDL (Universal

Design of Learning) that makes the curriculum relevant, differentiated, appropriately challenging, and accessible for all. This also allows for teacher/student personal connections that enable us to know our students well and to be able to support them better.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English language proficiency is not a prerequisite for our students when joining JAIS.  Those requiring additional English language acquisition support will immediately be welcomed and put at ease, as we create the appropriate program for them to become actively proficient in the English language, whatever their starting point.  All the learning, social activities, and instruction will be scaffolded to enable your child to transition their language skills to a place where they can fully access and enjoy the JAIS curriculum and life. 

Inclusion Needs
We welcome applications from students with a wide range of education, social, emotional, attention, regulatory, and sensory needs. We work in partnership to create special programs to enable different types of learners to thrive.  When this requires significant extra resources it needs to be funded privately by the parents, but in many cases it is provided within our best practice, UDL teaching, and from our well-resourced inclusion team and pool of learning assistants.

Advisory Program
Students in younger grades have an SEL (social-emotional learning) curriculum under the guidance of their homeroom teachers. In older grades, we have a distinct advisory program to help them navigate these important themes.  The Advisory team is at hand to work with students on individual coaching sessions,  and or/ in conjunction with the parents when needed.

Support Services in Jerusalem
Additionally, there are many services available in the Jerusalem community in order to further support JAIS students with special education needs.  Examples of providers that support JAIS students (at the expense of participating families) include:  Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Vision Therapists, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Behavioral Therapists, Psychiatrists, and Psycho-Educational Evaluators.

Jerusalem has many qualified practitioners in these areas and services are easily found in multiple languages, including native English speakers. The school will partner with outside agencies to come to campus to support your child when needed.