Student Support Services

The Student Support Services Team includes a dedicated and well-sourced team of Learning Support Teachers, English as an Additional Language Teachers, a School Therapist as well as Student Support Assistants who work within the classroom.  

Learning Support 

At BIS Houston, we offer personalised education within an inclusive environment, recognizing that students develop and learn in a variety of ways. Students sometimes need additional support to reach their full potential and our Learning Support Team offers this support as well as guidance to students, their parents and their teachers. The Learning Support Team develops personalised support plans to facilitate the individual development of each student. These support plans can include classroom accommodations, small group interventions, 1:1 learning support sessions as well as positive behaviour support plans. The Learning Support Team may suggest an external evaluation to assess a student’s specific strengths and challenges and will then incorporate any recommendations to ensure the student is able to fully access the curriculum. BISH also has a team of external therapists who can work with students who require an intensive 1:1 plan, though this service would be at an additional cost to parents.  

English as an Additional Language  

Many BIS Houston students fluently communicate in two or three languages, but sometimes that does not include English. Students whose first language is not English may need additional support and our English as an Additional Language (EAL) team supports these students as they develop their English  language skills, as well as support their access to the curriculum. The level of support a student may require (intensive or standard) is based on an EAL assessment that may be necessary as part of the admissions process. The EAL team utilizes Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an international standard used for language teaching, learning and assessment around the world, to determine assessment levels. Students are assessed against the CEFR at regular points throughout the year to determine the need for continued support.  

School Therapist  

Our School Therapist provides short-term, solution-focused counseling sessions to support students’ mental and emotional wellbeing. The School Therapy Office, located in the Agora, is a nurturing and calm environment where students can explore their thoughts and feelings while developing healthy coping skills and emotional intelligence. The School Therapist works collaboratively with school staff and parents to ensure the best quality of care while also maintaining the confidentiality of students as much as possible.