About special support schools

A special support school (resursskola) is a school that only accepts pupils who need special support. There are both municipal and independent special support schools.

Special support schools often specialise in a particular support need, such as one or more disabilities. Special support schools are often small school units with learning environments adapted to the special needs of the pupils. The size of the pupil groups is often small, and there is a large staff to pupil ratio.

Special support schools, skolverket.se

Only pupils with special needs can attend a special support school

Special support schools are only for pupils who need the special support that these specific schools offer to enable them to successfully complete school or to avoid difficulties in their school situation. Pupils who are not in need of special support cannot attend a special support school.

The vast majority of pupils can receive the guidance, stimulation and support they need for their learning and development in their mainstream school. Mainstream schools are responsible for adapting learning environments and meeting pupils' support needs. However, for some pupils it can be beneficial to attend a special support school, where there is specialised expertise for their particular support needs.

Applying to attend a special support school

As a guardian, you apply for a place at an independent or municipal special support school. If your child already attends one of the municipality's schools, the headteacher of that school may also submit the application to the special support school if you, as a guardian, consent to this.

Enrolment in a special support school is always voluntary.

Who may attend a municipal special support school?

It is the municipality that decides whether a pupil may attend a municipal special support school.

It is also the municipality that is responsible for assessing whether the pupil belongs to the target group of the special support school. This means that the municipality is also responsible for the investigations that need to be carried out in order to make an assessment.

The decision concerning placement in a special support school must be based on the best interests of the child. The decision must also take into account the child's attitude towards attending the special support school, in relation to the child's age and maturity.

If there are not enough places for all applicants, the municipality must make a selection. Priority will be given to those pupils most in need of the special support offered by the school.

Who may attend an independent special support school?

The organiser of an independent special support school is responsible for assessing whether a pupil needs the special support offered by the school. If there are not enough places for all applicants to an independent special support school, the school makes a selection based on queue time, sibling priority, geographical proximity and/or organisation-related criteria.