Bennett International Education Consultancy

Here's the first thing families relocating to the UAE with a child who has additional needs should understand: there is no single unified SEN system here. What your child receives depends heavily on which school, which emirate, and which curriculum they're enrolled in.

Anushay Hussain is a Special Educational Needs consultant with Bennett International, based in Dubai, with over 10 years of clinical experience in Speech-Language Pathology. In this clip, she explains what catches most families off guard.

There's no direct equivalent of a legally binding EHCP or IEP the way families from the UK or US might expect. The KHDA in Dubai does regulate inclusion, and many schools are genuinely committed, but support is far more school-dependent and less legislatively enforced than what you may be used to.
The biggest mistake families make? Assuming their child's current plan will transfer automatically. It won't. And having specialist guidance before you move makes an enormous difference.

Read our full interview with Anushay: https://bennettinternational.com/post/sen-in-the-uae-8-questions/

Parents: the number of schools students are applying to has gotten a little out of hand. Jayne Gandy says it, and she means it. But she also gets it. She has a high school senior.

Jayne is Bennett International's COO and one of its most experienced college counselors. In this clip, she talks through how to build a balanced list. The key? Do the work upfront. Visit schools. Understand what your child actually responds to. Big university energy or small campus feel? Knowing that narrows things down fast.

If your child is applying to a lot of highly selective schools, yes, the list will be longer. But when it comes to the safety schools? Pick a couple you'd genuinely be happy at. If you can't see yourself there, don't apply.

The families who know their child and understand the system end up with shorter, smarter lists.

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

Rankings measure what's easy to measure. They don't measure whether your child feels seen, challenged in the right ways, or genuinely excited to learn. Trust what you know about your child more than any list.

The right fit. That's what every family is looking for. A place where your child will thrive, grow, make friends, and eventually launch into the world with a degree and a direction.

Jayne Gandy has spent more than 20 years helping families find that fit as a college counselor with Bennett International. Her starting point? Know your child. And help them know themselves.

The more a student understands their own values, what matters to them, what kind of environment brings out their best, the easier this whole process becomes. And parents are huge in that. Showing them different types of schools, having honest conversations about finances early, and being open about what's realistic.

That financial conversation varies from family to family, and that's okay. Jayne's advice: have it early so there are no surprises later.

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

Test-optional. Test-required. Test-flexible. It's confusing. So should your child actually take the SAT or ACT?

Jayne Gandy is Bennett International's COO and a college counselor with more than 20 years of experience. Her answer: in general, yes. Take them. Take them as a baseline. Having a score gives you options, and you can always choose not to submit if the numbers aren't in range for your target schools.

The bigger reason? Schools keep changing their policies. Some that were test-optional are now telling families they'll require scores again. Having that score in your pocket means you're not caught off guard.

Every student is different, and Jayne says she might give different advice depending on the individual. But as a general rule, it's better to have the option than to wish you did.

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

This is a practical one, but it's important. If your child takes ADHD medication and you're moving internationally, you need to check the laws before you go.

Some medications that are commonly prescribed in the US or UK are controlled substances in other countries. Some are restricted. And in certain places, they're not legal at all. Arriving with a suitcase full of medication that's prohibited where you're landing is not a situation you want to find yourself in.

So before you move, find out whether your child's specific medication is permissible in your destination country. Find out if you'll be able to get prescriptions filled locally once you're there. And find out if you need any kind of pre-approval or documentation to bring an existing supply with you.

This isn't the fun part of planning an international adventure, but it's the kind of detail that can make or break your child's transition. A little homework now saves a lot of stress later.

— Elizabeth Sawyer, Bennett International