The Learning Support Department works alongside teachers and families to ensure that all students can access learning and succeed within the Lycée’s curriculum. Support is designed to meet a range of needs, from identified learning differences to challenges with organization, attention, and well-being, while helping students develop the skills and strategies they need to become independent learners.
Grounded in an inclusive approach, the program does not modify the curriculum. Instead, it provides targeted support, appropriate accommodations, and adaptive teaching methods that benefit all students, enabling each learner to fully engage with the academic expectations of both the French and American systems within a supportive classroom environment.
Our Philosophy
Our approach is student-centered, collaborative, inclusive and responsive. As an integral part of the educational team, the Learning Support department works in continuous partnership with teachers, families, and external specialists when needed. Teachers play a central role in identifying students’ needs and work closely with the Learning Support Team to put strategies in place that enhance learning for all students.
- Students are supported in both their academic development and their executive functioning skills, including organization, planning, and self-regulation
- Individualized plans provide accommodations while maintaining the integrity of the curriculum
- A universal approach to pedagogy helps reduce stigma and ensures that strategies benefit all learners
The goal is to support students in meeting the demands of the curriculum while building autonomy, confidence, and long-term success.
Primary School
Team and Focus
In the Primary School, a support team that includes the school psychologist, learning support teachers, and speech-language therapists. Together, they support students from Nursery through Grade 5 in building strong foundations for learning.
Their focus is on early identification and prevention, ensuring that learning differences are recognized and addressed as early as possible.
How Support Works
- Early screening and observation help identify potential learning difficulties.
- Speech-language therapists provide assessment and support for oral and written language development.
- Teachers identify students’ needs in the classroom and work closely with specialists to design appropriate support.
- Students may receive individual or small-group support during the school day.
Specialists work closely with teachers to adapt instruction and with families to ensure continuity and clarity. All Primary teachers are trained in inclusion and differentiation, reinforcing a consistent, school-wide approach. Together, they build strong foundational skills, while supporting each child’s academic and socio-emotional development.
French and English Language Support
Language support is an integral part of the Primary experience, ensuring that all students can fully access learning in our bilingual environment. The Français Langue de Scolarisation (FLSco) program, led by specialized French language educators, supports students developing proficiency in French, while English Language Learning (ELL), led by a dedicated ELL teacher, supports newly arrived students new to English. An English literacy support teacher provides targeted support for students who need additional help in English.
Students benefit from targeted small-group instruction, in-class assistance, and close collaboration with teachers, with a goal of full inclusion in the classroom. In addition, full-time French teaching assistants in each classroom reinforce language development and help ensure that all students can thrive in our immersive setting.
Middle and High School
Team and Focus
In Secondary School, specialized teachers, the school psychologist, a middle school and a high school counselor support students from Grades 6–12. The focus expands to include academic skills, executive functioning, and the increasing demands of independent learning.
How Support Works
- Students are identified through teacher referrals, continuity from Primary School, or evolving academic needs
- Support is provided during free periods, individually or in small groups
- Specialists work across all subject areas, providing transversal support
Key areas of focus include:
- Executive functioning (organization, planning, time management)
- Comprehension and learning strategies
- Attention and social-emotional needs
Specialists work in close partnership with teachers, advisors, and families to ensure that support is consistent and well integrated into each student’s academic experience. Together, they help students develop the strategies, independence, and resilience needed for success in High School and beyond.
Specialists also work closely with teachers to implement accommodations and adapt instruction. Co-teaching, particularly in Grade 6, supports a smooth transition to Secondary School and promotes inclusive, effective classroom practices for all students.
Counselors provide short-term, school-based support and help coordinate with external specialists when needed.
French and English Language Support
Language support in Middle School is designed to help students access increasingly complex academic content in both French and English. The Français Langue de Scolarisation (FLSco) and English Language Learning (ELL) programs, led by specialized language educators, support students developing proficiency in one or both languages. Ask CO.
Support is delivered through a combination of co-teaching, in-class support, and targeted instruction. As students grow in independence, the focus shifts toward strengthening academic language, comprehension, and written and oral expression, ensuring that all students can fully engage with the demands of the bilingual curriculum.
Where next?
Student Well-Being & Flourishing
