SENCO and Head of Inclusion in Dubai Schools: What They Must Do

The person you deal with most when advocating for your child at a Dubai private school is typically called the Head of Inclusion — sometimes referred to as the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). This individual sits at the centre of the school's inclusion structure, and understanding exactly what they are required to do under KHDA regulations is the starting point for effective advocacy.

Most parents assume the SENCO is there to help them. That is partially true. But the SENCO's primary institutional loyalty is to the school, not to the family. Knowing what the regulations require — not just what the school is willing to volunteer — changes the nature of every conversation.

The Legal Structure Behind the Inclusion Team

Under KHDA's Directives and Guidelines for Inclusive Education (2020), every private school in Dubai must maintain a structured Inclusion Support Team. This is not optional or discretionary — it is a compliance requirement tied to the school's DSIB inspection rating. Currently, 76% of Dubai private schools are rated "Good" or better for inclusion, with 27 achieving "Outstanding." Schools that fail on inclusion risk downward movement in their ratings, which directly affects their ability to raise fees.

The inclusion team structure mandated by KHDA has three distinct levels:

Governor for Inclusion — a member of the school's governing board whose role is to provide oversight and ensure the school's inclusion policy is implemented at the strategic level.

Inclusion Champion — typically the principal or a senior leader responsible for ensuring that inclusive education is prioritised across the school.

Head of Inclusion / SENCO — the day-to-day operational lead for all matters relating to Students of Determination. This person oversees the entry assessment process, develops and monitors IEPs, coordinates with classroom teachers and external therapists, and manages the Individualised Service Agreement (ISA) process where applicable.

When your child's Head of Inclusion says "I need to check with management," they are referring to the Inclusion Champion (principal) and potentially the Governor for Inclusion. Understanding this chain of authority helps when you need to escalate.

What the Head of Inclusion Is Required to Do

The KHDA framework defines specific obligations that the Head of Inclusion must fulfil. These are not aspirational standards — they are regulatory requirements.

Conduct or oversee the entry assessment. When a prospective student is applying to the school, the Inclusion Team must conduct an internal assessment of the child's needs. Critically, KHDA explicitly prohibits schools from demanding a formal external diagnosis as a mandatory prerequisite for admission or for accessing basic support. The entry assessment is designed to inform provision planning — not to screen out complex children.

Develop IEPs with parental participation. The Head of Inclusion is responsible for leading the IEP development process, which must include the classroom teacher, relevant specialists, and the parents. Parents have a statutory right to participate in developing goals, provide input, and must sign the document before the programme begins. The Head of Inclusion cannot produce an IEP unilaterally and present it to parents as a done deal.

Manage the ISA process transparently. In Dubai, when a student requires support that goes beyond the Standard School Service — the baseline of differentiated teaching and minor accommodations that all schools must provide without charge — the school must create an Individualised Service Agreement. The Head of Inclusion is responsible for clearly documenting why additional services are necessary, what those services involve, and what they cost. Schools are required to justify ISA fees transparently, not simply add line items to an invoice.

Coordinate with external specialists. If a parent has obtained an external assessment — from an educational psychologist, speech therapist, or similar professional — the Head of Inclusion is professionally obligated to review the recommendations and integrate viable strategies into the IEP. They cannot dismiss a specialist report without explanation.

Facilitate access to the full curriculum. Both KHDA and ADEK explicitly mandate that Students of Determination must have equitable access to the full school curriculum, including extracurricular activities. The Head of Inclusion is responsible for ensuring this access — including appropriate accommodations for field trips, performances, and sports events.

What the Inclusion Team Cannot Do

There are specific things the inclusion team at a Dubai school cannot legally do, regardless of what they claim is standard practice:

They cannot demand a formal external diagnosis before providing any support. KHDA guidelines are explicit on this point — the internal assessment process is sufficient to trigger basic provision.

They cannot unilaterally reject a student of determination. Only the Principal can communicate a potential non-admission, and the Principal must inform the Governor for Inclusion first, communicate the specific reasons in writing to the parents, and submit a Non-Admission Notification Form to the KHDA within two working days.

They cannot charge additional fees for support that falls within the Standard School Service. Differentiated teaching, basic environmental accommodations, and minor interventions must be included in standard tuition. Only genuinely specialist, intensive services can be charged through an ISA.

They cannot mandate a shadow teacher without documented evidence that the student's needs cannot be met through standard provision. If a school's inclusion team tells you a shadow teacher is "required," ask them to show you the assessment data demonstrating why — and ask for that documentation in writing.

How to Work With (and When to Go Around) the Head of Inclusion

For the majority of day-to-day inclusion matters, the Head of Inclusion is your primary contact and should be your starting point. Frame every interaction as a professional collaboration: you are both working toward the same goal, which is your child's educational progress.

However, there are situations where the Head of Inclusion either cannot or will not resolve your concern. In those cases, the escalation path is clear:

1. Head of Inclusion
2. Inclusion Champion (Principal)
3. Governor for Inclusion
4. KHDA parent complaint portal

Regulators — including the KHDA — will reject a complaint if there is no evidence of prior internal resolution attempts. This means every escalation step must be documented in writing, and you must give the school a reasonable timeframe to respond before moving to the next level.

When you escalate to the Principal, keep your communication factual and regulatory: "I am writing regarding [child's name]'s IEP, which has not been updated since [date]. I have raised this with the Head of Inclusion on [dates] without resolution. I am requesting your involvement in facilitating a formal IEP review meeting within the next two weeks."

Abu Dhabi: ADEK's Equivalent Role

In Abu Dhabi under the ADEK framework, the terminology and structure differ slightly but the principles are the same. ADEK mandates that schools maintain a designated inclusion lead responsible for implementing the Documented Learning Plan (DLP) process and managing any applications for additional fees or Individual Assistants (the ADEK term for shadow teachers). The ADEK School Inclusion Policy (2024) also prohibits schools from requiring additional fees for standard provision, and caps any additional charges for specialist services at 50% of the student's base tuition.

Whether you are dealing with a SENCO in Dubai or an inclusion coordinator in Abu Dhabi, the fundamental principle is identical: document everything, request everything in writing, and understand the regulatory framework before you walk into any meeting.

The UAE Special Education Advocacy Playbook covers the full inclusion team structure, KHDA and ADEK regulatory requirements, and the exact questions to ask the Head of Inclusion at your next meeting — so you walk in knowing exactly what you are entitled to and what to do when you do not get it.

See more UAE guides →