Tailored education: where can you go?.

Your child’s own school is the contact point. If you cannot solve things with the school, you can contact the partnership tailored education that your child’s school belongs to. Each partnership tailored education has a parent and youth support centre where parents and students can get more information and support in finding a tailored education offer. There are also different organisations or desks where you can go if education for your child is not obvious.

Do it yourself

When you call Ouders & Onderwijs, they will ask if you can solve it with the school yourself. Where this path has not yet been tried, this is still the best advice. In all situations, as a parent, you must have taken some steps first. Of course, we can also advise you on these steps.

Referral and keeping contact

The people on the phone will try to help you as best as possible. Because one piece of advice does not always solve the situation, they may ask you to call back. This way we keep contact and can advise you in next steps. A few questions are important to advise you well:

1. Which steps have you already taken (for example, talks with the teacher, with the school, with the partnership tailored education)?
2. Is there disagreement or conflict between parents, school, and partnership tailored education?
3. Do you disagree with the advice and cannot solve it yourself anymore?
4. Is there (threat of) school absence?

Parents association Balans

Balans answers questions from parents about development problems and tailored education. BalansAdvice is there for:

• General information about development problems in learning and/or behaviour
• Questions about your child’s problems and treatment
• Questions about rules and facilities
• Help finding addresses of care providers and other services in your area
• Questions about tailored education

BalansAdvice answers questions via a web form for both members and non-members. You can also call the BalansAdvice line every morning for a conversation with an employee. This person is available daily from 10 am to 1 pm at 030-2255050.

Education consultants or education care consultant

The education consultant comes in when you cannot agree with the school or the partnership tailored education. Education consultants are independent experts who parents and schools can contact for free if they have a conflict about school placement, removal, or support offers. This concerns students who need extra support at school or students who have been absent from school over 4 weeks without a place in sight. The education consultant usually comes for a home visit to discuss the situation with you. Together you make a plan that also involves the school. The consultant aims to solve the situation and make attending school possible again. They involve parties who can help make this happen. The control stays as much as possible with you as a parent. If this does not work, they will discuss next steps with you.

If your child needs both education and care at school, an education care consultant can help. In this case, you will be helped by an education consultant expert in education where care is also important. They can act if care at school is unclear. They can be reached through the education consultants.

The right desk

If there is both care and education and it is unclear who is responsible for the needed budget in your case, The right desk is a good place to ask. They know who is responsible for what and can advise you. You can fill in a form for advice.

Rights

Sometimes parents want mainly to know the rights and duties of themselves or the school. Then you can ask questions at the legal desk. This is a national desk where lawyers answer all kinds of legal questions. Their service is free.

The education inspectorate

The education inspectorate does not solve situations itself, but calls schools and partnerships tailored education to account for their responsibility. Parents can fill in the contact form and explain their situation. The form goes to the supervising team and serves as a signal.

Children’s rights treaty

All children have the right to good education. This is in the children’s rights treaty: an agreement made by 196 countries about children’s rights. The right to good education means a child must be able to go to school and be taught well, in a way that suits the child. You can ask the children’s ombudsman with questions or complaints if the government or a school does not follow the treaty. You can also contact the children’s rights helpdesk of Defence for Children.

Equal treatment law based on disability or chronic illness

If you think other rules apply to your child (with support needs) than for other children, the school may not follow the equal treatment law based on disability or chronic illness. You can then file a complaint at the human rights commission.

Contact with the different desks

• Ouders & Onderwijs 088-6050101 (Mon-Fri 9:30 am to 12:30 pm / 1 pm to 4 pm) or vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl
• BalansAdvice line 030-2255050, choose option 3 (Mon-Fri 10 am to 1 pm) or www.balansdigitaal.nl
• Education consultants 070-3122887, choose option 2 (Mon-Fri 9 am to 12:30 pm / 1 pm to 4:30 pm) or info@onderwijsconsulenten.nl
• The right desk 030-7897878 (Mon-Fri 10 am to 5 pm) or meldpunt@juisteloket.nl
• National care number 0900 2356780 (€ 0.20 per call) (Mon-Thu 9 am to 1 pm)
• Legal desk 0900-8020 (€ 0.95 per minute) (Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 5:30 pm)
• Children’s rights helpdesk 071-5160980 (Mon-Fri 1 pm to 5 pm) or info@defenceforchildren.nl
• The children’s ombudsman, 0800 8765432 (Mon-Fri 12 pm to 5 pm) or www.dekinderombudsman.nl
• Human rights commission 030 8883888 (Mon-Fri 10 am to 4 pm) or mensenrechten.nl