Education

Special schools in the French Community

For full information on Special Education in the French Community, please see the website http://www.restode.cfwb.be/org/special/brochure/

Special education in the French Community can be provided by either special classes within a mainstream school, or special schools reserved for certain categories of pupils.

The right to education for every child states that "Special and integrated education welcomes children and adolescents who, on the basis of a mulitdisciplinary examination, receive an education adapted to their needs and to their learning capabilities. Special and integrated education is organised to meet their specific educational needs, with a view to bringing them to the highest level of development of which they are capable.

In order to best respond to the needs of each individual child, special education is divided into eight different types, and is organised at the levels of:
- fundamental education, which includes nursery and primary school;
- secondary education.

Types and levels of education

The French Community does not organise Types 6 and 7.
All types of education are not available in all schools.

The parents, the educational establishment or a Psycho - Medico - Social Centre can say if they think a child has learning difficulties. It then has to be ascertained what the specific educational needs of the child are. In order for this to happen, they have to go to an agreed centre, either the school PMS Centre or a Guidance Centre. This centre has to provide, if necessary, a report saying that the child needs special education, and an attestation of the exact type of education recommended, after having carried out:
- a multidisciplinary examination for entry into Types 1,2,3,4 and 8;
- a medical examination for entry into Types 5,6 and 7.

This attestation allows the child to be enrolled in a special school.

Training available in secondary education

• Form 1.
  Various educational activites, encouraging social skills, communication and independence, in accordance with developing aptitudes, with a view to preparation for life in a protected environment.
• Form 2.
  General, social and professional training, aimed at achieving integration into society or a protected environment.
• Form 3.
  General, social and vocational training, aimed at achieving socio-professional integration. Objectives: personal development, citizenship, vocational training.
• Form 4.
  The same programmes, timetables, admission requirements, educational structures and certificates as mainstream education, but with a different framework in terms of personal requirements, norms, etc., adapted methodology, special tools/equipment.