Tailored education.

Focus point - tailored education.

Tailored education means good education for all students. The idea is that all students get suitable support in education. Preferably at a regular school, but if not possible, at a special education school. This sounds simple but is more difficult in practice. Tailored education does not yet provide education that fits all students. Too many parents and children face insufficient good education and sometimes no education at all. This has a long and deep effect on families. Often with serious results for children and their parents.

Criticism on tailored education

For a large group of children, tailored education works well. But there is much criticism of how tailored education is done, from schools and from parents. This shows a worrying picture. A large number of children get too little support, are not at the right school, or do not go to school. Numbers differ, but around 10,000 children are estimated to be homebound now. Differences between regions and schools are large. Schools must make sure a student who needs extra support always gets a suitable place. This so-called duty of care is avoided by schools by making obstacles during enrolment or when the school cannot give the needed support. The education inspectorate watches this too little.

In trouble

If a school cannot handle a student or when parents disagree with the school’s approach, parents feel pressure from the school or the partnership tailored education. These bodies are much stronger than parents. If schools do not follow the rules, parents find it almost impossible to change this. When problems grow and get more complex, more professionals get involved. Many parents lose track. They look hard for information and help for their child’s sake. Too often, parents are not involved enough, not taken seriously, or pressured. Parents get stuck between the necessary support for their child and what the school can and wants to offer. This often leads to students who have no education available or who get seriously harmed by their school experiences.

Problems

The main problems with tailored education are part of the problems across all education. Pressure is often too high, there are staff shortages, classes are too large, and some teachers lack experience and knowledge to handle differences in class well.

In a system with too much pressure, the children who struggle the most fall out first. They go to special education, but there teachers are rare and waiting lists are long. Also, some children have no suitable place in special primary education or special education. Because they are gifted, autistic, depressed, or anxious. Or children are so badly bullied or rejected that they cannot go to school at all. We see that the number of children in special education and the number of homebound children is growing.

How should education be suitable?

Real tailored education is as inclusive as possible. Schools accept children and really look at what they need. Parents are seen as experts on their child and do not have to push for extra support. Teachers are trained to deal with differences and know exactly what is expected of them. They can easily ask for help from specialists or call on care. Parents find the right information easily and can contact the partnership tailored education or experienced parents for advice if they do not agree with school. Schools work together in the partnership tailored education to make sure each child gets tailored education, even if that means developing new types of education, working with care and youth help, buying private education, or if children need homeschooling. Students’ rights are protected because they are always heard and have the right to learn.

What parents think

The staat van de ouder is the yearly study of Ouders & Onderwijs about parents’ opinions and experiences. In 2022 it was about the transition from primary school to secondary school. This change is extra hard for children who need extra support. The study showed that parents feel fewer choices and many limits for their child. This applies to the whole path from school advice to first year of secondary school. Read more and see the full study on the staat van de ouder page.

Our views: 

• Tailored education is as inclusive as possible.
• Parents know best what is good for their child and get the right information and support.
• Teachers are trained to handle differences and know exactly what is expected of them.
• Schools look at what children need and can easily ask for help from specialists.
• Partnership tailored education makes sure tailored education is arranged for each child and develop new forms of education and cooperation.
• Students have the right to education and are always heard.