ABSTRACT
Spain has a high dependence upon private schooling, especially in the pre-school stage and in special education. In Spain special educational needs concept is linked to certain kinds of pedagogic help or services required to achieve the pupil's educational aims, such as an educational need described in terms of what is essential for the achievement of educational objectives. Continuing and vocational education is to be adapted to include handicapped students, with the aim of offering full social integration to all citizens and to increase the quality of life for people with disabilities and handicaps. Students with special educational needs are assessed through a process carried out by multi-professional teams, cooperating with the school and the family. The new concept of special education brings with it two functions. One is the search for a situation as least restrictive as possible, and the other is the diversification of what is offered by schools.
