To secondary school with extra support.

Which school?

The primary school advice decides which type of secondary education a child can go to, also for children with extra support. The extra support the child needs often affects the type of education. For example special education, practical education track, or learning path supporting education. But it can also be a regular school with extra support like dyslexia tools or a support class.

For children with extra support the school makes a development perspective plan. This also states which level the school expects your child to reach at the end of the school period (outflow profile).

All this information together gives a good guide to see which school fits your child best. You can expect the primary school to give you advice not only about the level but also about the type of school or support your child needs.

Tip: Ask with the primary school advice also about the type of school or support your child needs. And also for suggestions of schools they think suit your child well.

Lwoo, practical education track and special secondary education

Learning path support (lwoo) is for pupils who need a little extra help to get a vmbo diploma and is part of the support at a regular secondary school. Not every school offers this support and it varies per region for which pupil this support is meant. Ask the school where you apply or the partnership tailored education for this.

A practical education school is for pupils who learn better from practice and leads not to a diploma but to the labour market. There are criteria for admission and a declaration of admissibility is needed. Check with the school to apply or the partnership tailored education. Ask the practical education school about the criteria and procedure.

To go to a school for special secondary education, a declaration of admissibility is needed. The school requests this from the partnership tailored education. The school can tell you all about this and does the request. If you choose a special education school, you can also register your child there directly.

Tip: Start early with the school choice. The support needed often means fewer options. The search usually takes longer and the registration process can take more time. For example if a declaration of admissibility is needed or if a school cannot fulfill the duty of care themselves.

Choosing a secondary school

Choosing a secondary school is very personal. What you can generally look for you can read in this article. If your child needs extra support at school, you also need to check if the school can offer this support. But how do you know?

• Look carefully in the school’s information at how care and support for pupils is and how it is organised.
• Every school has a school support profile describing what support is possible at school. This profile is in the school guide. It can also help compare schools.
• After a first selection it is good to talk to the internal support coordinator or the care coordinator. They can tell more about the options and look together with you and your child if the needed support can be given.

Tip: Contact other parents and ask about their experience with a school and the extra support. You can find these parents through local or national parent groups but also through the school or partnership tailored education.

Partnership tailored education

Sometimes it is hard to find the right support at a (special) school in the area. Then you can ask for help from the partnership tailored education. The partnership tailored education knows what support the schools in the region offer and which school is specialised in certain support. The partnership tailored education is also responsible that every pupil has a suitable school. In the school guide you find contact details of the partnership tailored education under which the school falls. From 2022 there are independent support centres for parents and pupils in every partnership tailored education. You can go there for more information and they can help you find a suitable school. The partnership tailored education also grants the declarations of admissibility.

Admission to secondary school and duty of care

With the primary school advice you register your child at the secondary school you choose. The procedure depends on agreements the schools in your region have made. In some regions there is a lottery procedure. These agreements apply to all pupils. Some lottery procedures include a hardship clause that lets a pupil be placed directly at the secondary school because of serious personal reasons, health, or home situation. For example in Amsterdam.

For pupils with extra support there is a follow-up after registration, namely if the school can fulfill the duty of care. The school checks if they can offer the needed support and admit your child. Usually they do this in consultation with parents and pupil and use available information and expertise. If the school cannot offer the support, they look for another school that can.

To the first class

After the registration process your child is enrolled at the new school. The start is important and your child probably needs extra attention. Many schools have a ‘warm transfer’ from primary to secondary school, offer an introduction to the new class and often an introduction week at the start of the school year. For pupils with extra support we advise to organise a little more.

Tips

• Organise a meeting with everyone involved (old school, new school, parents and pupil, coordinator or helper or others involved) for the warm transfer.
• Make agreements on how support/guidance looks the first weeks and when you discuss further support (start talk).
• Ask if your child can already join a day before the summer holiday.
• Get to know the mentor in advance.