Understanding the Levels of Support in Dubai Schools: A Parent’s Guide to the KHDA’s Three-Tiered Approach for Students of Determination

Dubai schools must support every student of determination, but that support is delivered in three distinct levels. Here is what each level looks like in practice, and what it means for your child.

Dubai is committed to making education inclusive for every child, regardless of ability. Under the Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework (KHDA, 2017), all schools must provide appropriate support to students of determination, the UAE’s empowering term for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

But support isn’t “one size fits all.” The Directives and Guidelines for Inclusive Education encourage schools to take a graduated approach, matching the level of support to each child’s needs.

Here’s what these levels mean for your child’s learning experience.

Level 1: Quality Differentiated Teaching for All

At this universal level, all students, with or without identified needs, receive high-quality, differentiated teaching. Teachers adapt their instruction to reach different types of learners in the classroom.

According to the KHDA framework, schools must “remove barriers to learning” and ensure that “teaching is responsive to diversity.”

What this looks like:

• Instructions delivered both visually and verbally
• Flexible seating or quiet spaces
• Adjusted pace or complexity of tasks
• Visual schedules and prompts
• Extra time or simplified language

What it means for your child:
If your child has mild or emerging needs, Level 1 support may be enough without a formal Individual Education Plan (IEP). It’s about inclusive, high-quality teaching from day one.

Level 2: Targeted Group or Individual Support

When universal teaching strategies aren’t enough, schools provide targeted interventions for small groups or individuals. This is consistent with KHDA’s “graduated response.”

What this looks like:

• Small-group literacy or numeracy sessions
• Short-term pull-out support with a specialist teacher
• Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) in class for certain lessons
• Therapy blocks or behavioural/social skills groups

What it means for your child:
Your child stays in the mainstream classroom but gets extra targeted support to address gaps or develop key skills. Schools may start a support plan or provisional IEP at this stage and closely monitor progress.

Level 3: Highly Individualized Support

Some students need highly personalised instruction and ongoing specialist input. Level 3 is designed for children with more complex or long-term needs.

What this might include:

• A fully individualised IEP with measurable goals
• One-to-one support with a dedicated LSA
• Adapted curriculum or modified assessments
• Regular collaboration with external therapists (speech, OT, behavioural)
• Multi-agency planning between school, parents, and professionals

What it means for your child:
At this level, your child’s learning experience is carefully customised. Progress is reviewed frequently, and the school works in close partnership with you to adjust strategies.

Why These Levels Matter

These levels are not labels, they are flexible frameworks to match support to a child’s evolving needs. As KHDA’s guidelines emphasise, inclusion is a shared responsibility. Whether your child receives Level 1 differentiated teaching or Level 3 highly individualised support, the goal is the same: equity, dignity, and progress for every student.

What Parents Can Do

• Ask your school: “What level of support is my child currently receiving?”
• Request to co-develop your child’s IEP or support plan if they’re at Level 2 or 3.
• Monitor progress and advocate for adjustments when needed.
• Stay in regular contact with the school’s Inclusion Support Team.

Additional References

• Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework (KHDA, 2017)
• KHDA Directives and Guidelines for Inclusive Education
• Massouti et al., A Qualitative Study on Dubai’s Inclusive Education Policy from School Leaders’ Perspectives

We’re Here to Support Your Journey

If this guidance resonates with you and you’d like additional support in navigating your child’s education journey in the UAE, we’re here to help.

At Bennett International, we understand that every family’s situation is unique, and often having a knowledgeable partner listening, with open ears and years of experience, can make all the difference.

Whether you’re preparing to approach a new school, looking to strengthen an existing school partnership, or simply want to explore what options might be available for your child, our services are designed to support families just like yours.

We’d love to learn more about your family’s journey and discover how we might work together to support your child’s success.

Ready to connect? Reach out to us for a friendly conversation about how we can support your family within the UAE’s inclusive education community.

Start a (free) conversation with our UAE SEN team →

Anushay Hussain is a leader on Bennett International’s UAE Special Education Needs (SEN) team, based in Dubai. A licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over 10 years of clinical experience, she brings deep expertise to her guidance of families who come to Bennett in search of support for their child with additional needs. Anushay relocated to the UAE from Pakistan, where she founded and continues to oversee a multidisciplinary child development clinic providing speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioural support to children with a wide range of learning challenges. She holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and is fluent in English and Urdu.

Bennett International Education Consultancy works directly with hundreds of families each year across the globe. We support families by helping them make informed decisions about the best-fit schools for their children; with our guidance, they secure placement in preschools, private day schools, public/state schools, boarding schools, colleges and universities, including schools with particular programs, such as special needs support.

How a Bennett consultant helps

Support levels are described differently by every school, and the label matters less than what is actually provided day to day. Our special education needs consultants know how these schools operate in practice, and we support relocating families arriving in the UAE.

Get in touch with a consultant who works with Dubai schools, for an hour of clarity →