ABSTRACT
The Netherlands is unique in the European context for its highly developed and well-supported special school system which is expanding and growing in spite of the counter-efforts to establish 'integration' or mainstreaming as a legitimate form of schooling for pupils with special educational needs. An integration project has been started to link ordinary schools with special schools to foster pupil integration. The Interim Act is designed to encourage pupils from special education into ordinary schools. Special schools are for children with physical or mental handicaps or with social problems, who are not able to benefit from education in ordinary schools. The Special Education Interim Act provides peripatetic support for pupils with special educational needs. The Interim Act refers to four other forms of support to encourage integration of pupils with special educational needs into the ordinary school: Peripatetic supervision, Split placements, Part-time attendance and a liaison committee.
