Special schools
Special educational needs, disability, inclusion - the schooling of children with special needs can be confusing. We create clarity.
Before a child starts school, they are examined by pediatricians from the municipal health department to ensure that they are ready for school. If this examination reveals any signs of developmental delays or handicaps, parents are referred to the regional advice and support center at the Albert Schweitzer School in Mainz-Kostheim. There, any special educational needs will be determined in order to provide the child with the best possible educational support as set out in the Hessian School Act:
"Children and young people who require special educational support to ensure their physical, social and emotional as well as cognitive development at school are entitled to special educational support."
(§ 49 Para. 1 HSchG).
The Hessian School Act distinguishes between handicaps that can be taught with the same learning objectives and those that require the learning objectives to be adapted.
The following are considered to be learning objectives
- Emotional and social development
- Focus on language support.
- Focus on physical and motor development
- Focus on vision
- Focus on hearing
Differentiated learning is taught in the
- Focus on learning
- Focus on intellectual development
An individual curriculum is drawn up for pupils with a disability that makes it significantly more difficult or impossible for them to learn at the same pace and to the same standard of assessment as their peers. This applies regardless of the place of schooling, i.e. regardless of whether the parents choose a general school for their child (inclusive schooling) or a special school.
For all special needs, regardless of the learning objectives, the Education Act defines schooling at a mainstream school as the standard form of education:
"Inclusive schooling for pupils entitled to special educational support takes place as a standard form in the general school (...)."
(Section 51 para. 1)
Support at mainstream schools for pupils with special educational needs is not only possible, but desired by the legislator, the state of Hesse. In this case, the general school works closely with the regional counseling and support center as well as with a corresponding special school. Accordingly, inclusive education programs are provided or created as needed at Wiesbaden schools.
In the primary school sector, the principle applies that the school in the school district should be attended wherever possible so that schooling can take place close to home. In secondary schools (secondary levels 1 and 2), parents also have the right to choose where to attend. In addition, schools with special facilities are designated. At these schools, structural accessibility is being created step by step for one or more key areas, where necessary. Pedagogically, these school locations are particularly dedicated to one (sometimes several) specific focus(s).
Pupils in Wiesbaden who are unable to get to school on their own due to a permanent physical or mental disability have the option of using a transport service. This will take them to school and back home again after lessons - if necessary. For more information follow the link
In the event that parents do not want inclusive schooling for their child, special schools are available in Hesse, and also in Wiesbaden, for the individual special educational needs.
Special schools teach pupils with a disability or impairment; they specialize in one or more of the special educational needs described above. This applies both with regard to the structural design and equipment, as well as with regard to the special educational resources available there.
There are specialized schools for each special needs area. In principle, pupils with special educational needs can leave school with a Hauptschule, Realschule or a school-specific qualification.
Special schools in Wiesbaden
Special schools with the following special needs can be attended in the city.
Language
Schools with this special focus teach pupils whose language comprehension, expression and communication skills are severely impaired. The promotion of language is a consistent teaching principle. This requires close cooperation between the school, speech therapists, parents and counseling and support centers. Schools with a focus on language support teach according to the curricula of mainstream schools and also offer their qualifications.
Links to the relevant schools can be found at the bottom of this page.
Mental development
Schools with this special focus support pupils with a comprehensive impairment in intellectual development and a comprehensive, long-term impairment in practical life, social and academic skills.
The school-based support relates to
- practical life skills such as self-care, health care, movement and mobility
- social skills such as social relationships, language, communication and life in society
Methods of communication are developed for pupils who hardly speak or do not speak at all.
- academic skills such as German, mathematics, learning and working behavior
The following schools with a focus on intellectual development in Wiesbaden offer afternoon programs as part of all-day profile 3.
- Fluxus School Biebrich
- Johann Heinrich Wichern School
- Friedrich-von-Bodelschwingh-Schule works with a focus on physical and motor development with a high proportion of pupils who require special educational support with a focus on intellectual development
Links to the schools can be found at the bottom of this page.
Learning
Schools with this special focus support pupils with a comprehensive impairment in intelligence development with an impairment in learning development. These impairments have such a strong impact on their learning at school that their performance in reading, writing and arithmetic is below average. Lessons are based on individual support plans. Pupils are intensively prepared for the professional and working world in the vocational orientation stage. The vocational qualification (BO qualification) is regularly obtained at the school with a focus on learning. If suitable, pupils can also obtain the Hauptschulabschluss in cooperation with a secondary school.
Pupils with sensory impairments and physical-motor impairments
a) See
For children with a special focus on vision (blind and visually impaired pupils) whose parents opt for a special school, there are no appropriately specialized special schools in Wiesbaden. Due to their small numbers, they are taught in regional special schools outside Wiesbaden. Further information can be found on the website of the Wiesbaden State Education Authority. Die Linke can be found at the bottom of this page.
b) Listening
For hearing-impaired children whose parents opt for a special school, there are no specialized special schools in Wiesbaden. Due to their small numbers, they are taught in regional special schools outside Wiesbaden. Further information can be found on the website of the Wiesbaden State Education Authority. Die Linke can be found at the bottom of this page.
c) Physical and motor development
Schools with this special focus cater for pupils with physical disabilities. Small classes allow for individualized instruction. One focus is on the physical and motor development of children, some of whom have to cope with multiple disabilities. In Wiesbaden, the Friedrich-von- Bodelschwingh-Schule specializes in this area of support; pupils can also be looked after here on an all-day basis. The qualification corresponds to that of the Hauptschule or the school specializing in learning.
In addition to the Wiesbaden schools, it is also possible to apply for admission to the Antoniushaus in Hochheim. The children are accommodated there as boarding students and can be taken home at the weekend. They have access to modern, therapeutic facilities and medical care.
Links to the relevant schools for all three special educational needs are listed at the bottom of this page.
Further information on the schooling options for these three special educational needs can be found under Learning with special educational needs.
There you will also find overviews/schedules of services for the areas of vision, hearing and physical and motor development. You will find the link at the bottom of the page and Links and downloads
The regional advice and support centers as well as the state education authority for the Rheingau-Taunus district and the state capital of Wiesbaden can answer questions about choosing a school.
An overview of all special schools in Wiesbaden (state and private) with details of the special focus and the school-leaving qualifications possible there can be found under Links and downloads.