Identification of special educational needs - Czech Republic

The decision as to whether a child's development requires special consideration or support is dependent on the concrete assessment of the individual child. The principle of the assessment is the pedagogical one. The assessment of a pupil can only be done with the parent’s approval. It is important to provide the needed support and special pedagogical assistance as early as possible in order to prevent the pupil’s academic failure and other negative developmental consequences.

As a rule, it is the teacher who deals with the special needs of a pupil, in co-operation with resource centres (special schools) and counselling services. The responsibility of parents is to make the decision for their child to undergo the assessment of special needs. The experts from the special educational and/or educational – psychological counselling centres look into the nature of the need of a child and make proposals for special support and provisions. The head teacher of the school decides which form of special education support will be implemented. Parents have the right to approach this decision-making process and their opinion is crucial.
The professionals from the health sector are responsible for medical diagnoses and medical recommendation to support education.

The assessment of educational needs is carried out by pedagogical-psychological advice centres, special pedagogical centres, centres of educational care and diagnostic institutes within the educational sector.

There is a network of counselling institutions in the Czech educational system providing psychological and special pedagogical support and other services. The assessment concerning the special needs of a child is based upon the use of psychological and special pedagogical tools. A large majority of pupils with special needs have specific learning and behavioural disorders. Special pedagogical centres are part of the resource centres and deal with expert assessment of special needs and support services for certain groups of pupils with regard to the kind of impairment that they have. Most of these centres are now developing more complex areas of support provisions.

Centres of educational care are responsible for assessing and dealing with support for children with severe behavioural problems and/or children endangered by drug abuse or criminal delinquency. These centres provide counselling to parents and teachers.

Diagnostic Institutions deal with the assessment of children sent to the protective educational regime by a Court decision and also with youngsters whose parents or guardians have asked for their placement into a diagnostic Institution due to behavioural problems, and/or due to a dysfunctional family.  Diagnostic institutions are the part of the system of education in the Czech Republic.

Process of assessment of special educational needs

A Pupil’s assessment focused on his/her special educational needs is based on a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. The procedure is carried out by the Educational Psychological Counselling Centres and/or at Special Education Centres by professionals - special pedagogues and/or psychologists – both at schools and/or at the centres. 
The recommendation for undergoing the assessment is given by the class teacher, parent, the pupil him/herself and physician or by another person who is in contact with the pupil.
The assessment as well as special educational support cannot be done without the parent’s approval.

The assessment of the pupil consists of a detailed description of individual needs, the way the needs are to be met, the professional contact person as a consultant, the recommendation concerning the process of education and its organisation including assessment of the pupils school performance, placement and additional necessary support (personal, technological, professional, teaching materials, special text books, etc). These recommendations are embodied into the individual educational plan of the individual pupil with special needs.

According to the Act on Education the parent must approve the placement of the child into special education and/or his/her placement into the special school and/or special class/unit. The parent can, however, object to the placement decision. The school headmaster is obliged to initiate the change of the placement or educational programme of the child whenever the situation of the pupil concerning his/her special needs changes. There is a “free track” from special school into mainstream and vice versa.