Special Needs

To preparedness to adjust subject matter anddiscussions which take place within a work team
working methods and the consistent practice ofor at a pupil welfare conference concerning a pupil'
Individualized work skills, is the allocation ofproblem must result in a practical program. This
resources in response to current needs. Schoolprogram should be jointly drawn up by the school,
difficulties are connected with the social situationthe pupil and the pupil's parents on the basis of
of school and pupils. This can mean reducing thethe pupil's needs and must show what is being
number of pupils per teacher, increasing theaimed at, e.g. better reading proficiency, more
proportion of trained remedial teachers, reinforcingregular attendance, greater motivation, or greater
the school management, increasing the numberscapacity for cooperation. The program should also
of social workers, recreation staff, schoolindicate the means and methods to be employed.
librarians, school hostesses, pupil assistants andIt is important to endeavor to strengthen the
school psychologists, and generally increasing thepupil's self-esteem and self-reliance by basing
number of adults per child. Of course it can alsoactivities on his or her strong points. It is not until
imply material reinforcements. In schools whereafter aims and methods have been discussed that
there are many children belonging to linguisticthe question of placing the pupil in another group
minorities, it is important not least for teachingshould arise.
materials also to be provided in these pupils'Several possibilities are available.
languages.-Pupils needing special support can be formed into
Special attention must be paid to the expansionsmall groups for a brief period. Pupils can work on
and design of the school day in schools with manyspecial projects for longer than is normal.
problems. If there are great differences betweenDiscussion groups can be formed on various
schools in terms of initial working conditions, theretopics. During the time allotted for free activities,
are also bound to be substantial differences inpupils can be given special support in proficiency
resource inputs.subjects over and above the time allocation for
Free resources must be available for deliberateEnglish and mathematics.
deployment with reference to the central tasks-Special parental interviews can be arranged, and
of schools. Above all those tasks include equippingtime can be allotted for visiting parents who do
all pupils with sound knowledge and basic skills. Ifnot attend school meetings.
pupils have to contend with difficulties, the principal-Time can be allotted for helping pupils with home
aim when allocating a school's auxiliary resourcework which they are unable to do at home.
must be to provide for the needs of those pupilsShould these opportunities of variety in terms of
before applying resources to other purposes.methods, content and organization prove
The school management and forms masters areinsufficient, the pupil's situation must be discussed
responsible for seeing that preventive work isat the pupil welfare conference. The pupil's
planned and conducted within the school indifficulties may be so great that he or she
collaboration with other municipal authoritiesrequires support in the form of a special teaching
working on behalf of children and young persons.group for a considerable period, i.e. more than one
The working plans drawn up for a schoolterm The school must then early out a more
management district and a work unit shoulddetailed investigation of the pupil's situation. The
indicate in concrete terms how this work haspupil welfare conference, acting in consultation
been planned.with the pupil and the pupil's parents, may decide
The work unit is the natural unit within which tothat the pupil is to join a special teaching group of
attempt the solution of different problems. Thethis kind, if one has already been established.