Cluster 1 schools and cluster 2 schools.

Cluster 1 schools

Cluster 1 schools are for students who are blind or visually impaired. Often these students have one or more other support needs besides the visual impairment. Most students with a visual impairment attend regular education with extra support. About 2500 students go to a cluster 1 school. In the Netherlands two institutions offer cluster 1 education and support: Bartiméus and Koninklijke Visio.

Cluster 2 schools

Cluster 2 schools provide a place for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. These schools also accept students who have great difficulty communicating. Some of these students attend a special education school run by one of the institutions, but most go to a regular school with support from an institution. Several institutions offer cluster 2 education and support: Kentalis, Auris, VierTaal and Vitus Zuid. You can find an overview of all schools via Simea.

The education

The education is given in small groups and follows the standard curriculum as much as possible. There is extra guidance and many extra facilities for the students. For example, speech therapists and educational psychologists are present. Cluster 1 schools have much support material: such as magnifiers, digital workbooks, speech computers, adjustable tables and extra light. Students also learn social and practical skills like reading braille, caring for themselves, travelling alone by bus and walking with a white cane. Cluster 2 schools pay extra attention to communication: including lip reading, speech training and sign language. Core goals are set for students in cluster 1 and cluster 2 that describe what they must know and can do. These do not differ from the core goals for the rest of special education.

Registration and admission

To attend education at cluster 1 or cluster 2 schools or to get support at a regular school, a student must meet the cluster guidelines and have a declaration of admissibility from the institution. You request this from the institution your child goes or wants to go to. Your application will be assessed by the investigation committee of the cluster 1 or cluster 2 education institution. The committee looks at the criteria it has set. You can see the criteria for cluster 2 on the Simea website or request them from the institution. The committee also decides how long the declaration of admissibility is valid and how your child is guided at school.

Support at a regular school

After it is checked whether a student falls within the cluster guidelines, it is decided what support is needed. This can be a light, medium or intensive arrangement. With a light or medium arrangement, a student goes to a regular school and gets help and support from the institution. With an intensive arrangement, a student goes to a special education school of the institution.
If a student is not admissible to cluster 1 or cluster 2 education, it may still be possible to get short-term support and/or advice at a regular school. The investigation committee decides on that in an application. If your child does not qualify for this either, the committee can advise on your child’s guidance.

No duty of care

Cluster 1 and cluster 2 schools have no duty of care. If your child cannot stay at the school, the school has an effort obligation. This means the school must do its best for 8 weeks to find a suitable place for your child at another school.