The European Commission, as a result of the evaluation of the first Phase of the SOCRATES programme, is considering various proposals to improve the selection procedures and quality of applications and in particular to support the participation of people with special educational needs (SEN) within all the actions of the SOCRATES programme.

The General Directorate for Education and Culture asked the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education to undertake an analysis of a number of SOCRATES application forms dealing with SEN and identify those that clearly demonstrated a quality of intention and consideration of SEN.

This report presents the findings of that study.

The aim of the analysis study was to identify parameters or criteria to improve the quantitative and qualitative participation of learners and educational staff with SEN within the different actions of the SOCRATES programme. The identified criteria would then provide input for the future selection of high quality applications and would be of use to the European Commission and the National Agencies (for the decentralised actions).

The findings of the study has lead to:

· A set of criteria demonstrating a quality of intention and consideration of SEN
· Guidance/criteria on how to interpret and apply them
· Suggestions on existing procedures for applications
· Suggestions on guidelines for applicants
· Proposals on possible further actions to be taken by the Commission.

The report considers each of these areas in full.
 
Download the report in one of the 10 Agency languages as a MS Word document using the links in the table below.