Bennett International Education Consultancy

A diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted. But here's what Anushay Hussain wants every parent to hear first: a diagnosis is information, not a verdict. It opens doors to support that wasn't accessible before.

Anushay is a Special Educational Needs consultant with Bennett International, based in Dubai, with over 10 years of clinical experience. In this clip, she walks through the practical first steps for families who've recently received a diagnosis and are preparing to relocate.

Get your documentation in order. Assessment reports, therapy summaries, existing school plans. These are your currency in a new system. Start the school conversation early, ideally six months before your move, because placements for children with additional needs fill up fast in Dubai.

The families who navigate this best are the ones who come in prepared: knowing their child's profile, their non-negotiables, and what questions to ask.

OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH ANUSHAY IS HERE: https://bennettinternational.com/post/sen-in-the-uae-8-questions/

Every parent wants to know: how does my child stand out in a pool of thousands of qualified applicants? Jayne Gandy has a way of thinking about it that might reframe the question entirely.

Jayne is Bennett International's COO and one of its most experienced college counselors. In this clip, she shares the honest test she uses: if there's someone else in your child's school doing the same activities, your child probably isn't standing out in a highly selective applicant pool.

That's not a reason to stop doing those things. If your child loves them, absolutely continue. But if the goal is differentiation, it's worth assessing honestly. The students who stand out tend to go above and beyond in a specific area: a cause they care deeply about, research they've pursued, a skill they've developed to an exceptional level.

Standing out isn't about doing more. It's about doing something distinctly yours.

Read the full interview: bennettinternational.com/post/raising-a-college-kid-10-questions/

Dubai alone has British, American, IB, Indian, French, and other curriculum schools, and each one handles SEN very differently in terms of staffing, documentation, and philosophy. So how do you choose?

Anushay Hussain is a Special Educational Needs consultant with Bennett International, based in Dubai. In this clip, she explains what families should actually be prioritising when comparing schools: dedicated learning support staff, low student-to-LSA ratios, a named SENCO you can meet, and evidence that children with similar profiles to your child are already thriving there.

A British curriculum school may have a SENCO and be more familiar with UK-style support plans. An American school may have a stronger IEP framework. But neither is a guarantee of quality.

Don't just ask "do you accept children with additional needs." Ask "what does a typical week look like for a child like mine?" That question changes the whole focus, and your conversation, entirely.

Our full interview with Anushay is a must-read for any family with children with special needs moving to the UAE! https://bennettinternational.com/post/sen-in-the-uae-8-questions/

Boarding school isn't just for one type of family or one type of kid. The reasons people choose it are all over the map.

For some families, it's tradition. Generations have attended a particular school, and it feels like a natural continuation of something meaningful. For others, it's about stability. If you know your work is going to have you moving every few years, boarding school can give your child one consistent place, one community, one set of friends, while you relocate around the world.

And sometimes it's about opportunity. There's a program your child would really thrive in, something in sports or music or a particular area of support, that just doesn't exist at home. Boarding school makes that accessible.

The other thing worth knowing is that boarding schools themselves vary enormously. Military schools, arts-focused programs, schools with strong special needs support, tiny rural campuses, sprawling traditional prep schools.

Each has its own culture and philosophy. Finding the right fit means understanding what your child actually needs, not just which schools have name recognition.

It's a bigger decision than most, but for the right kid in the right environment, it can be transformative.

— Elizabeth Sawyer, Bennett International

Early Decision. Early Action. They sound similar, but they work very differently, and understanding the distinction could save your family a lot of stress (and money).

Jayne Gandy is Bennett International's COO and a college counselor with more than two decades of experience. In this clip, she explains both options clearly.

Early Decision: you apply early, and if you're accepted, it's binding. You're going. You withdraw everything else. Case closed. It's great for students who've done their homework and found a school where everything lines up: the fit, the major, the finances.

Early Action: you also apply early and hear back sooner, but it's not binding. You can wait and see what else comes in the spring before making a decision.
Both are good options. Which one is right depends entirely on the student and the family.

Read the full interview: bennettinternational.com/post/raising-a-college-kid-10-questions/