Introduction
Compulsory education in Switzerland totals 9 years. For detailed information regarding the organisation of mainstream educational services in Switzerland, see www.educanet.ch

The cantons (provinces) are responsible for the organisation of special needs education, as they are for education in general. There are special forms of schooling for pupils, who cannot meet the usual school standards or who need special educational programmes to do so. Compulsory education applies also to pupils with visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental retardation, speech disorders, and behavioural disorders.

Phases of education

Early Intervention
Early intervention in Switzerland is mostly family-based. Measures can start at birth or in the very first years, before the child starts school. The early intervention specialist comes either to the home of the child, or the parent brings the child to the early intervention service. In addition, there is a possibility for children with more severe problems to receive in-house care in a specialised institution (boarding house) on a temporary basis or for a longer time.

There are over 100 early intervention services ensuring a complete coverage of the country. Mostly, they are generalists experienced in dealing with different problems. In addition, there are some institutions specialised on certain impairments. In recent years, the number of freelance early intervention specialists has increased.

Normally, early intervention specialists work in the domestic environment of the child. Partly, they work with small groups of children.

Early intervention services are partly under private law (e.g. parents associations), partly under public law (e.g. community or canton).

Special needs kindergarten
A proportion of children presenting developmental delays attend special needs kindergarten or a kindergarten for children with speech problems. There are, however, regional differences. A large number of these provisions are located in larger cities.

In principle, special needs kindergartens prepare children for special schools. They accept children aged 4-7 years. In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, admission starts at the age of 4, in French-speaking and Italian-speaking Switzerland at the age of 3.

Integration
A small proportion of children receiving early intervention attend mainstream kindergarten, accompanied by an early intervention specialist who mainly works in the domestic environment of the child with occasional visits to the kindergarten. The integration into mainstream kindergarten depends to a large extent on the legal basis within the canton.

“Basisstufe” (transition from kindergarten to primary school)
The introduction of a new provision for the transition from kindergarten to primary school is a challenge for professionals dealing with young children.
In “Basisstufe” children aged 4 to 8 are taught together in one class. They can go can go through this provision in 3-5 years.
At present, introductory classes are available in different pilot projects in public schools; private schools offer this provision already.

Compulsory Schooling
Special needs education consists of special schools (recognised by the Invalidity insurance, see the Financing section) and special classes, which are linked to mainstream school. Thirdly, there is integrated schooling, with or without support from a special school.

Special schools
According to the criteria of the Invalidity Insurance, there are special schools for
- pupils with mental impairments,
- pupils with physical impairments,
- pupils with severe behavioural disorders,
- schools for pupils with hearing, speech, visual impairments;
- chronically ill pupils (hospital schools).
The number of pupils in special school has increased in the last 2-3 years.

Special classes
This provision of special needs education is linked to mainstream school (e.g. the classes are in the same building as mainstream classes and under the same administration).
- Kleinklassen at the primary level (usually not more than 14 pupils, adapted curriculum);
- Werkklassen / Werkjahr at the lower secondary level (practical classes, reduced curriculum);

Note: In the last 15 years, the proportion of pupils in special classes has constantly risen. These classes consist to a substantial proportion of pupils with behavioural problems and pupils with learning difficulties. At the same time, the number of pupils who benefit of individual measures by visiting services (see below) has risen as well.

Integrated schooling
Pupils with more severe disabilities: Integration is still quite rare. There are models usually linked to a special school. The pupil remains administratively in the special school.

Pupils with less severe disabilities: Integration is an alternative to special classes.

Note: In integrated schooling, the pupil has either an individual education programme for all disciplines or for 1-2 disciplines only.

Individual measures
These provisions are offered by visiting services, mostly in integrative settings within mainstream school. Most frequently used provisions are speech therapy, treatment of dyslexia and therapeutic exercise (Psychomotorik).

The proportion of female pupils in special needs classes is approx. 38% and the proportion of pupils from ethnic minority groups is around 46%. There is an average of 9.6 pupils in one class.

Transition period
In Switzerland, approximately two thirds of the young people enter the labour market via an apprenticeship, i.e. via vocational education. Less than 20% of the adolescents graduate from higher schools.

Mainstream vocational training takes 4 years. For adolescents with less severe special educational needs (e.g. learning difficulties), there are shorter provisions or provisions with reduced requirements and additional support (see the Financing section).

For adolescents with more severe special educational needs, there are provisions organised by the Invalidity Insurance.

Pupils with special educational needs attending higher schools are mostly affected by physical impairments. They are normally integrated in mainstream schools.

History of special education in Switzerland:

- First school for blind pupils in Zurich (1810)
- First school for deaf pupils in Yverdon (1811)
- First school for pupils with learning difficulties in Chaux-de-Fonds (1882)
- The establishment of the Invalidity Insurance (1960; see 1. Law) facilitated the development of schools with special curricula.