Development of national standard for basic support started.

Development of national standard for basic support started.

'Come to a shared, realistic and achievable standard for basic support.' That was the question we, representatives of teachers and parents, got from former minister Wiersma in the letter to the House of Representatives 'Together under Tailored Education'. 'Because teachers know better than anyone what is needed to get clarity and what students and parents can expect from them.' And parents and students know better than anyone what they need. We, the parent organization Ouders & Onderwijs, together with the General Education Union started enthusiastically with this question.

Large regional differences in tailored education 

Every child has the right to good, tailored education. Schools therefore offer support to students who need it. With the introduction of tailored education, partnerships tailored education got the freedom to define for themselves what basic support includes. This can cause large regional differences. A national standard for basic support helps so parents, students and teachers know what to expect. 

National standard: what can parents expect?

Although the minister has now resigned, the Ministry of OCW has asked parents and teachers to continue developing the national standard. A national standard for basic support describes what basic support each school location must offer and what students and parents can expect from a school. The standard also describes what knowledge is needed at school to shape the basic support. Basic support is paid from the regular funding to schools and fits with what most schools already do. 

The standard will be laid down in laws and regulations. We start with a basic standard for three support areas: reading/spelling problems and dyslexia, giftedness and high ability, and learning behavior task/work behavior, executive functions. The plan is to expand the standard later to other support areas. The standard applies to primary and secondary education (including Special primary education and Practical education track). Meanwhile, OCW explores if, and in what form, a national standard for basic support is also suitable for special education. 

Your input is very useful!

The need for a national standard is great. Preparations are underway now. In autumn we travel around the country to collect input for the content of the standard at schools. We use the descriptions that already exist at the different partnerships tailored education. OCW asked to present the standard in the first quarter of 2024. We try hard to meet this ambitious planning.  

We do this design process together, your help and input are very useful: 

• Do you know good examples of descriptions of basic support? For example from the partnership tailored education your school belongs to? Mail them to basisnorm@aob.nl.  
• In autumn we organize various work sessions with teachers/supporters and discussion tables with parents and students. We are looking for locations for this. Can we use your school? Then contact us. And do you want to join? Sign up. Mail to basisnorm@aob.nl.   
• Do you already have an idea about what should be in the national standard or other input for us? Let us know!  

Do you want to respond or do you have questions? Then send an email to basisnorm@aob.nl  

General Education Union and Ouders & Onderwijs