CLASSIFICATION/CATEGORISATION SYSTEMS IN AGENCY MEMBER COUNTRIES The use of different systems of classification/categorisation of needs is currently being debated in a number of ways in almost all European countries. Many countries use national systems of classification/categorisation, for a variety of purposes: identifying problems, deficits, abilities, educational or support needs of students, to be used in relation to assessment, resource allocation, placement etc. or to inform policy making. Some countries are in the process of introducing national classification/categorisation systems and other countries are considering the application of international systems (i.e. ICF and ICF-CY, or the OECD Disabilities, Difficulties, Disadvantages (SEN-DDD) model). This document presents an executive summary of the main information collected via a survey in 2009 from the following Agency member countries: Austria, Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). [NB: not all countries answered all questions.] Key Findings The current use of international and/or national classification or categorisation systems in countries can be summarised as follows. Of a possible 25 replies from Agency member countries: - 2 countries indicated that they do not currently use any form of system; - 4 countries use an international system; - 4 countries use an international system adapted to their country needs; - All other countries use some form of national classification/categorisation system. The possible future use of international and/or national classification or categorisation systems in countries can be summarised as follows. Of a possible 24 replies from Agency member countries: - 2 countries are considering using an adapted international system; - 6 countries are considering using a national system; - 2 countries are considering using some other sort of system; - All other countries are not considering changes to their current situation regarding use of some form of national classification/categorisation system. 13 of a possible 24 Agency member countries stated there is currently on-going discussion within Education or other Ministries to change the current system of classification or categorisation system. All other countries stated there is no such discussion.
Classification or categorisation systems currently used in Agency member countries 2 Agency member countries indicated that they do not currently use any form of system: Austria and Cyprus. 23 Agency member countries indicated that they currently do use some sort of system: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). 3 Agency member countries use more than one system: Czech Republic (2 systems), Lithuania (2 systems), Germany (3 systems). The classification or categorisation systems that are in use 3 Agency member countries use an international system: Czech Republic (ICF), Luxembourg (OECD SENDDD), Switzerland (ICF-CY). 3 Agency member countries use an international system adapted to their needs: Estonia, Latvia (ICD-10), Portugal (ICF-CY). 17 Agency member countries use a national system: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany (2 systems), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania (2 systems), Malta, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). Germany also uses another type of system (an agreement of the Länder).
Countries use of classification or categorisation systems for different purposes Many countries use classification or categorisation systems for multiple purposes. 19 Agency member countries use systems for national data collection purposes: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany (3 systems), Greece, Hungary, Lithuania (2 systems), Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). 12 Agency member countries use systems for international data collection and statistics purposes: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany (2 systems), Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain. 3 Agency member countries have systems in relation to general disability legislation: Czech Republic, Greece, Latvia. 15 Agency member countries have systems in relation to education specific legislation: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, UK (England), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). 11 Agency member countries use systems in relation to assessment procedures: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany (2 systems), Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland). 14 Agency member countries use systems for the placement of pupils with SEN: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany (2 systems), Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales). 13 Agency member countries use systems for resource allocation: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany (2 systems), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales). 5 Agency member countries suggest the purpose of using the system is (also or primarily) for other reasons: - Czech Republic (ICF: the system is used in the medical area for description purpose). - Czech Republic (national system: support provisions allocation).
- Malta (national system: this data is being used to give us a general overview of students with SEN in schools. - Portugal (ICF-CY: identifying students with disabilities for educational services and identifying the characteristics of school environments available for students with special needs). - Switzerland (ICF-CY: there is no national co-ordination). - UK (Wales) (National system for identifying pupils with SEN and the provision to meet those needs to inform and plan appropriate provision for individuals and groups, to make decisions about funding, self-evaluation and planning improvements and monitoring and evaluation of outcomes). Plans to introduce classification or categorisation systems in Agency member countries 14 Agency member countries said they are not currently planning to introduce systems: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK (Scotland). 9 Agency member countries stated they are currently planning to introduce systems: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania (2 systems), Malta, Switzerland, UK (Northern Ireland). 1 Agency member country may introduce changes based on a review of the existing system (UK (England)). The classification or categorisation systems that are being considered 2 Agency member countries are considering using an adapted international system: Estonia, Switzerland, 6 Agency member countries are considering using a national system: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Malta, Finland, UK (Northern Ireland). 2 Agency member countries are considering using some other sort of system: - Lithuania (based on the OECD SENDDD model); - UK (England) (changes in light of a Governmental review).
The possible use of classification or categorisation systems for different purposes 7 Agency member countries are considering using systems for national data collection purposes: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Malta, Switzerland, UK (Northern Ireland). 6 Agency member countries are considering using systems for international data collection and statistics purposes: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Estonia, Finland, Lithuania (2 systems), Malta, UK (Northern Ireland). 5 Agency member countries are considering using systems in relation to education specific legislation: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Lithuania, UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales). 8 Agency member countries are considering using systems in relation to assessment procedures: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Switzerland, UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales). 4 Agency member countries are considering using systems for the placement of pupils with SEN: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Estonia, Lithuania, UK (Northern Ireland). 7 Agency member countries are considering using systems for resource allocation: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Switzerland, UK (Northern Ireland). 1 Agency member country suggests the potential purpose of using the system(s) is for other reasons: UK (England) (unknown as yet - changes in light of Governmental review).
Current debates in Agency member countries 13 Agency member countries stated there is currently on-going discussion within Education or other Ministries to change the current system: Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Malta, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). 11 Agency member countries said there was no such debate at the moment: Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden. The classification or categorisation systems that are being debated 3 Agency member countries are debating an adapted international system: Hungary, Malta, Switzerland. 9 Agency member countries are debating a national system: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). The possible use of classification or categorisation systems that are being debated 5 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems for national data collection purposes: Germany, Malta, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Scotland). 1 Agency member country is debating the use of systems for international data collection and statistics purposes: Malta. 3 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems in relation to general disability legislation: Czech Republic, UK (England), UK (Scotland). 8 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems in relation to education specific legislation: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Malta, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales).
8 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems in relation to assessment procedures: Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland). 5 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems for the placement of pupils with SEN: Germany, Hungary, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Wales). 10 Agency member countries are debating the use of systems for resource allocation: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland). 10 Agency member countries stated there is no such debate on-going in their country: Austria, Belgium (Flemish speaking community), Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, UK (Wales).
More Information The full report this information is taken from is available upon request from: secretariat@european-agency.org The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education is an independent and self-governing organisation, established by member countries to act as a platform for collaboration between professionals and decision-makers at both national and European levels, on policies and practice in special needs education. The Agency is maintained by the Ministries of Education in member countries 1 and also supported by the European Institutions (Commission and Parliament). The Agency publishes a range of publications and information resources in member country languages on a variety of thematic areas within special needs education. These are also are available from: http://www.european-agency.org/publications Questions about situations in our member countries should be directed to country National Co-ordinators or Representative Board members all their details can be found on the County Information pages of the Agency website: http://www.european-agency.org/country-information Questions about the Agency s work should be directed to the Secretariat: Østre Stationsvej 33, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark Phone: +45 64 41 00 20 secretariat@european-agency.org 1 Austria, Belgium (Flemish and French speaking communities), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).