Shadow teachers and school inclusion: when does your child need one, and how does it work?

School inclusion is not just a child sitting in a mainstream classroom; real inclusion means genuinely taking part in learning, activities and friendships, with support that fades as each new skill is gained. That is where the shadow teacher and the inclusion programme come in.

Who is a shadow teacher?

A trained specialist who accompanies the child in class to help them understand instructions, organise their attention, handle social situations and apply the strategies in their individual plan. The main goal is for the child to become gradually independent, so the shadow teacher steps back step by step rather than staying forever.

When does a child need one?

• An autism spectrum diagnosis or developmental delay that makes following the class hard without support.
• Severe attention or behaviour-regulation difficulties that affect the child and classmates.
• A large academic gap that needs tasks adapted within the lesson.
• A recommendation from a comprehensive assessment that in-class support is better than pulling the child out of lessons.

How does the in-school inclusion programme work?

• In-school assessment: we observe the child in their natural setting, not a testing room.
• A joint inclusion plan with goals agreed by the center, the school and the parents.
• Therapy sessions inside the school, coordinated with academic support.
• Teacher training in differentiated instruction so the whole class benefits.
• Regular reports for everyone involved.

We work with partner schools including Dover International School, Memphis American Division and Mada Preschool, and help other schools set up an inclusion unit.