Identification of special educational needs - Cyprus

Through the core articles of the Law the State undertakes the early detection of children with special needs from the age of three.

Any person, especially any parent, director of a nursery or kindergarten or elementary school or secondary school or any other member of their education staff, doctor, psychologist, social worker, is responsible to acknowledge to the District Committee each case, came to his/her knowledge or notice of a child who may have special needs.

The District Committee, then, has the duty to efficiently evaluate the needs of any child considered to have special needs, wherever that child attends classes or stays and provides all the necessary measures in terms of curriculum adaptation, technical and staffing support for the effective education of the children within a mainstream setting.

This evaluation is conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including a child psychologist, an educational psychologist, a teacher of special education, a doctor, a speech therapist and any other specialist, as the case may need.

The parents of the child to be evaluated have the right to attend during the evaluation and to participate alone or with a specialist.  After the evaluation, parents are informed of the decisions concerning their child, taken by the Committee, and have the right of appeal to a Central Committee for special education and training.

The District Committee decides that a child is in need of special education and training or facilities.  It also decides whether special education and training shall be provided in mainstream classroom, in a special unit in mainstream schools or in a special school. 

As from September 2004, the Ministry of Education of Cyprus has put into action the Mechanism for Identification and Support of Children with learning difficulties, emotional and other problems.  This Mechanism facilitates in-school support for children and families before any official special education is carried out.
To ensure the appropriate staffing of the various services, the Ministry places a high priority on staff development through local training schemes and participation of staff in training programs abroad.

Every two years, or earlier if required, a re-evaluation takes place in order to assess the child’s progress, the educational program and further needs, if any.