ABSTRACT
In France it is the tradition to employ different Ministries to educate or care for pupils and children with special educational needs. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration is responsible for the medical, medical/educational and social educational centres, where children and young people with severe disabilities or learning difficulties are 'accommodated'. There are eleven years of compulsory schooling and in common with many other countries in Europe there are two parallel education systems, ordinary or mainstream education and special education. Special help which is re-educative is aimed at pupils with difficulties in nursery or primary schools. Special schooling takes place under the charge of national education or the Ministry of Social Affairs. National education inspectors who are responsible for educational adaptation and integration are also expected to evaluate the teaching on behalf of pupils with special needs, under the authority of the inspectorate and the directors of the departmental services of National Education.
