This study aims to re-assess the situation of special education in 18 Agency member countries, comparing findings with an earlier Agency report published in 1998.
This report mainly focuses on qualitative trends in inclusion across Europe. The study is oriented towards trends and developments in the provision for pupils with special needs in European countries. Although some quantitative data is presented (number of pupils with special needs, for example), the emphasis is on the qualitative side.
The study does not aim to describe or evaluate the quality of educational provision, but it does reveal common problems, developments, trends and central issues across the participating countries. As well as a presentation of the study methodology, country descriptions are given, followed by a general overview of the different topics that form the basis of this study.