Khalifa Special Needs School

Khalifa School aims at improving the lives of children with special needs by imparting professional expertise, therapy and education, so they are able to unfold their potentials and be active members of the community.

Our vision is to be a school for children with special needs wherein the staff, parents and members of the community share a commitment to provide education that will enable each child to develop his/her full potential.

Our mission is to provide functional educational programs and support services for students with mental and physical challenges, based on their strengths, abilities and needs which will enable them to lead an independent life in a caring and secure environment.

The school believes that: Every child has a fundamental right to be educated. All students can and will learn irrespective of their disability. Education is a co-operative effort between school, home and community.

To provide students with a safe and secure environment. To assess the abilities and potentials of each student by using appropriate assessment tools. To develop and enhance the cognitive, social and physical abilities of the students. To provide developmentally appropriate programs and support services. To enhance learning by the use of teaching strategies and communication systems suitable to the needs of the students. To maintain and improve the students’ functional capabilities by using assistive technology. To provide opportunities for national, international and intercultural exposure in promoting global citizenship. To evaluate students’ progress through periodic reviews.

Khalifa School, founded in 1988, is recognized as the first private educational institution for special needs students in Kuwait. Motivated by her grandson, Mrs. Lulwa Khalifa Alghanim established the School. Khalifa School began its journey in 1988 with 5 enrolled students in the annex of the owner. The School had to close down for a year during the invasion from 1991 – 1992. After the war the school shifted to a bigger premise in Salwa with enrollment reaching up to 100 students. In 1993 the school shifted to a more established set up in Dasman to fulfill the needs of the growing enrollment. The School shifted to its new campus in Salmiya in 2008. The present school campus is built keeping in mind the unique needs of the students with more updated facilities and advanced services.

The school's curriculum is FACES which is adapted and modified to meet the unique needs of the students and the cultural requirements of the country, objectives of ASDAN are also incorporated in it. Khalifa School curriculum reflects school’s mission learning objectives and policies.

At the start of each year, the present functioning level of students is assessed by the teacher using formal and informal assessment tools. An individualized educational program (IEP) is developed for each student stating the annual goals and short-term objectives. A parent meeting is held to finalize the IEP goals. The multi-disciplinary team participates in IEP development.
The long-term goals are broken down further into short-term objectives and are implemented in the daily and weekly lessons. Teachers employ various educational .methods such as TEACCH, PECS, etc. The objectives are evaluated and is recorded in the IEP bank document. Conferences are held quarterly to inform parents of their child’s progress.