About compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities in easy-to-read Swedish
Who can attend compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, and how do I apply?
Your child can attend a compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities if they have an intellectual disability or an acquired brain injury, which means that the school has assessed that they do not have the capacity to successfully complete mainstream compulsory school. Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities is an alternative to mainstream compulsory school. Most children attend compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 7 and 16. Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities is free of charge. In other words, there is no cost to attend.
Before a child can start attending compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, the municipality must conduct an investigation to determine whether the child is in the target group for this type of school. The investigation includes an educational, psychological, medical and social assessment. The municipality must consult you as the child's guardian when conducting the investigation.
Typically, a child who will be attending compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities will start in preschool class when they turn six, but exceptions can be made. Some children can begin directly in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities the year they turn six or seven. Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities does not have its own preschool class. Pupils who will be attending compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities go to a preschool class that is part of the mainstream compulsory school, Sami school or compulsory special needs school.
The municipality is required to ensure that all children have a place at school. As a guardian, you can request which school you would like your child to attend. In addition to municipal schools, there may be independent compulsory schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities to choose from. If you want your child to attend an independent school, you can contact that school to find out how to apply.
Application and admission to compulsory school
Choosing a preschool class and compulsory school or compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, skolverket.se
More about compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities in the brochure Anpassade grundskolan är till för ditt barn
What your child learns in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities is adapted to the circumstances and needs of each pupil. Among other things, it aims to provide knowledge and a solid foundation for active participation in society. It also contributes to personal development and social interaction.
In compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, your child is taught in subjects or subject areas, or a combination of these. The education is regulated by a curriculum and may also include subjects set out in the compulsory school course syllabuses.
There is a course syllabus for each subject or subject area. This describes the aim of the teaching and what knowledge and skills your child is expected to develop in the subject or subject area.
There is also a timetable, which describes what subjects or subject areas are included in the program and how they are distributed between the different stages. Pupils attending compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities are entitled to a specific number of contact hours.
The following subjects can be studied in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities:
- Art
- English
- Home and consumer studies
- Physical education and health
- Mathematics
- Music
- Science studies
- Social study subjects
- Crafts
- Swedish or Swedish as a second language
- Technology.
Pupils who do not study subjects can instead study the following subject areas:
- Aesthetics
- Communication
- Physical coordination
- Everyday activities
- Perception of reality.
School activities shall be in line with the democratic values of society, and everyone working in the school shall respect the dignity of every human being and our environment. All pupils must feel safe and respected and be given equal opportunities in school.
Curriculum, course syllabuses and timetable for compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, skolverket.se
Reception in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, skolverket.se
Assessment and learning in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
At school, your child receives regular information about what they have learned in relation to the intended learning outcomes.
Parent-teacher conferences in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
At least once a semester, you and your child will meet with your child's teacher to discuss how things are going at school and how your child is getting on. This is called a parent-teacher conference. The meeting is intended to provide a comprehensive picture of your child's knowledge and social development.
During the meeting, you will discuss how the school can support and stimulate your child's development. The meeting gives the pupil and guardian the opportunity to have a say in the child's schooling and what they are learning.
Once a school year, the teacher must draw up a written individual development plan for pupils in Years 1–5 and for those pupils who do not receive grades in Years 6–9. The individual development plan should, among other things, include assessments of your child's knowledge development and summarize what needs to be done in order for them to meet the knowledge assessment criteria or the grading criteria.
Grades in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
In compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, the teacher will only give grades in subjects if the guardian or pupil has requested this. Pupils studying subject areas are not graded.
The grading scale has five levels: A, B, C, D and E, with A as the highest grade and E as the lowest passing grade. If the pupil does not satisfy the grading criteria for a grade of E, the teacher will not assign a grade.
Work experience program in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
All pupils in compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities are be given practical work experience (referred to as prao). The purpose of the work experience program is for pupils to gain knowledge about working life. It should be adapted to the pupil's circumstances. Early contact with working life can make it easier for the individual to enter the labor market later in life.
Work experience program, skolverket.se
Integrated education
Your child can attend mainstream compulsory school or Sami school and still study according to the course syllabuses set for compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities. Similarly, they can attend compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, but study according to the course syllabuses set for mainstream compulsory school. This is called being integrated.
The headteacher can decide that a pupil who attends compulsory school and studies in an integrated way should nonetheless study one or more subjects as set out in the course syllabuses for mainstream compulsory school.
Integrated education, skolverket.se
About Sami school
Continuing your studies after compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
If your child has grades from compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities, they do not qualify to be admitted to a national program in upper secondary school. However, they do qualify for admission to the “vocational introduction” and “individual alternative” introductory programs in upper secondary school. They may also qualify for upper secondary school for pupils with intellectual disabilities.
About upper secondary school for pupils with intellectual disabilities
If your family has a mother tongue other than Swedish
If either of your child's guardians has a mother tongue other than Swedish, your child may be entitled to mother tongue tuition and study guidance in their mother tongue or their strongest school language.
Your right to learn your mother tongue in compulsory school
Study guidance in the mother tongue, skolverket.se
If your child needs a place in school-age educare
Your child may spend time in school-age educare during the parts of the day when they are not in school and during school holidays. To secure a place, submit an application to the school-age educare center of the compulsory school or compulsory special needs school in question.
About school-age educare
School-age educare at compulsory special needs schools, National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools’ website