Because Every Child Can

The NOS Tamkeen Centre is operated by specialised and trained staff offering support to students in Grades (1-9) with varying levels of learning and cognitive difficulties, in addition to helping non-Arabic speaking students improve their Arabic language skills, in return for fees depending on the service.

NOS Tamkeen Centre Services Include: 

• Screening and Evaluation for Learning Difficulties and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (Irlen Syndrome)
• Individualised Lesson Plans    
• Assessment for SEN & LSC Students 
• Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme  
• Exam Reading and Writing Service  
• Public Awareness

Screening and evaluation for learning difficulties and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (Irlen Syndrome)

The specialised staff at the Centre screens and evaluates all cases referred by parents or stage administrations. Results are written up in special reports that are discussed with the students’ parents, in preparation for setting individual lesson plans, should the parents wish to register their son/daughter in the centre.

The Centre helps students sitting for external IGCSE exams and Cambridge Checkpoint exams by providing them with the names of centres accredited by the British Council which assess cases and issue reports to be submitted to the British Council Examination Administration through the NOS heads of stages. 

The Centre also screens students for Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (light sensitivity, also known as “SSS” or Ireln Syndrome) and provides them with colored worksheets and exam papers or transparencies, as well as allowing them up to 25% additional time during exams.

Individualised Lesson Plans 

The Centre’s specialists prepare and implement individualised lesson plans for registered students based on the evaluation results. Each student takes around 5 classes a week in core subjects, namely Arabic Language, English Language and Mathematics, according to the weaknesses that appeared in the evaluation.

Based on the level of learning difficulty, students are either provided a support teacher inside their classrooms, in cooperation and coordination with the subject teacher to implement the plan prepared for each student, or by giving students one-on-one classes in the Centre with a specialized teacher.

Assessment for Tamkeen Centre Students

A special mechanism is used to assess the academic performance of Tamkeen Centre's students based on the learning outcomes as set in their individual lesson plans. The grading system used for Tamkeen Centre's students is also different than that for the rest of their classmates.

Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme

The Centre also helps non-Arabic speaking students or Arab students with special Arabic language needs due to limited previous exposure to the language in order to improve their Arabic language skills through individually tailored lesson plans prepared by Tameekn Centre specialists based on their evaluation results. Students are given one-on-one or small group lessons in Arabic reading, writing and conversation, using a special curriculum for non-native speakers.  

Students enrolled in this service take special Arabic language exams prepared based on their individual plans and their set learning outcomes, until they are reach the level of the rest of their classmates. 

Exam Reading and Writing Service 

This service is provided to students in all school stages who present official reports stating that they have learning difficulties, whether they are registered in Tamkeen Centre or not. The Exam Reading and Writing Service is provided according to needs as specified by the reported assessment. Students in this service take exams in special rooms, far from noise distractions and are given the time they need to finish. A trained teacher reads the questions and writes the answers as dictated by students. For students with SSS, exams are printed on special colored paper.  As much as possible, the teachers reading each exam are teachers of that exam subject.

Public Awareness

In addition to the previous services, the Centre also spreads awareness among our school community of students, teachers and parents about learning difficulties and SSS and how to detect them and deal with them by distributing leaflets and organizing lectures and workshops.