Country information for Netherlands - Assessment within inclusive education systems

The introduction of the Education that Fits policy in 2014 gave the regional school alliances their own educational assessment procedures (instead of a nationwide procedure). The outcome of the assessment procedure can lead to a declaration of admission to special education. The declaration of admission is valid for at least a year. The regional school alliance sets the criteria for the duration and review of the declaration. The decision regarding the declaration is made by a multi-disciplinary team. The law requires that two experts are involved in the assessment procedure. One of the experts must be a special education generalist or a psychologist; the other expert is chosen by the school or the regional school alliance.

After admission, schools are obliged to provide an individual development plan, which describes the expected outcomes and educational objectives for the learner. It indicates the level the learner can achieve and the support they will need to achieve it. The parents have to agree with the development plan. The plan must be evaluated and, if necessary, adjusted at least once a year.

The big difference between the situation before 2014 and the current situation is that until 2014, assessment mainly described the learners’ disability and, as a result, their incapability. Since 2014, the assessment provides a description of a learner’s capabilities, as well as their need for support in order to be successful.

Last updated 27/11/2019