Families with children in special education are currently facing a shortage of places and tailored solutions close to home. With this decree, adopted by Parliament on a proposal by Minister Valérie Glatigny, we are providing very concrete answers: more flexibility to create places where they are lacking, less administrative burden for teaching teams and, above all, better-suited pathways in the interest of every pupil.
More places and closer to home
Today, some children have to make very long journeys every day because there is no suitable place available near their home.
The decree will make it easier to open new sections or new types of special education provision where there is a clear need in a given region. This will offer more solutions to families and prevent pupils from having to travel across the whole of Wallonia or Brussels to get to school.
The text also makes it easier to create new places for pupils with autism spectrum disorder, where waiting lists are longest.
Strengthened teams to better support pupils
Schools will now be able to call on two new types of professionals: clinical special-needs educators and care assistants. These professionals will support teachers and other team members in helping pupils who need extra attention.
Schools will also have greater freedom to recruit the profiles that best match the needs of their pupils.
More inclusive solutions
The decree also simplifies the creation of Inclusion-Oriented Classes (CLAVI) in mainstream nursery education. A CLAVI is a special education class set up directly within a mainstream school. Pupils remain supported by special education staff but share in mainstream school life (breaks, meals, certain activities).
In practice, this will make it possible to offer a faster solution to children who need specific support, even where there is no special nursery school nearby.
The bilingual French-sign language classes are also being made permanent. They will now benefit from a stable framework for pupils, families and teaching teams, with inclusion in mind.
Less administrative red tape
The draft decree also simplifies daily life for schools. Certain authorisations will no longer need to go through the Minister but directly through the Administration, saving time. The text also removes certain duplicate formalities. Teachers and school leaders will thus be able to devote more time to supporting pupils rather than filling in forms.
Better anticipating needs
Finally, a review of special education provision will be carried out every four years. This will make it easier to identify regions where places are lacking and to adapt provision to pupils' actual needs.