Finding a SEN governess in Abu Dhabi

The short answer: the role is the same in Abu Dhabi as in Dubai. What differs is the school regulator, the distances involved, and the size of the pool of specialists, so it is worth starting the search earlier.

What is the same

A SEN governess in Abu Dhabi does what one does anywhere: works one-to-one with your child, mostly at home, to a written plan covering learning, routine, communication and behaviour. The questions to ask, the qualifications to look for and the way a placement should be supervised do not change with the emirate.

What is different

The regulator. Private schools in Abu Dhabi are regulated by ADEK, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, rather than Dubai's KHDA. If the role includes supporting your child in class, the school has to agree to it, and the conversation is with that school's own inclusion team.

Geography. Abu Dhabi city, the mainland suburbs and Al Ain are further apart than most Dubai communities. Where the specialist lives relative to your home and your child's school matters more, and it narrows the match.

Timing. Fewer specialists are based in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai. A brief that needs a particular language, particular hours or experience with a particular need can take longer to fill. Start before the term you need her for, not during it.

School and home together

Many Abu Dhabi families ask for one specialist who supports their child at school and carries on at home afterwards. It needs the school's agreement, and where it is possible it removes the gap between two people using different strategies.

How Special Minds works in Abu Dhabi

We place specialists across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, under the same clinical supervision as our Dubai placements. Managed placements are AED 15,000–30,000/mo; direct hire is also available.

See special needs support in Abu Dhabi for how we work in the emirate, and the SEN governess page for what a placement includes.