Source: ‘Statistics Finland’.
In Finland learners with special needs are classified into two basic categories:
1. Those with an official decision (39,700).
2. Those without an official decision. This second group includes learners with learning difficulties (dyslexia, maths, speech difficulties and so on). There are 126,400 pupils who receive part time special education without a decision and so are not enrolled or transferred into SNE.

Source: ‘Statistics Finland’

Basic education is governed by the Basic Education Act (628/1998), the Basic Education Decree (852/1998), the Government Decree on the objectives and time allocation in basic education (1435/2001) and the National Curriculum 2004 given by National Board of Education.
Learners have special educational needs when their possibilities for growth, development or learning are decreased by the reason of disability, sickness or decreased working order. Learners with need of psychological or social support or at the risk at these areas have right to support for the learning.
Pupils with minor learning or adjustment difficulties have the right to receive part-time special needs education in conjunction with mainstream instruction. If a child cannot cope in mainstream education due to disability, illness, delayed development, emotional disorder or some other similar, he or she may be admitted to special needs education. Special education is provided primarily in conjunction with mainstream instruction or in a special class or at some other appropriate location.