Parliamentary question - E-3279/2009Parliamentary question
E-3279/2009

Support for pupils with physical and mental disabilities in the European schools

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3279/09
by Evangelia Tzampazi (PSE)
to the Council

The European schools play an important role in educating the children of European Community staff, including children with physical and mental disabilities.

In the case of disabled pupils, every school should take all the necessary steps in advance and make the required adaptations — such as accessibility of buildings, personal assistance for the children, support from specialised staff, special teaching material, cooperation between parents and teaching staff — in order to support their integration and full participation in the educational process.

1. What measures have been taken to integrate pupils with physical and/or mental disabilities in the European schools and in general to promote the principle of integrated teaching, as in other schools throughout Europe?

2. What are the alternative solutions offered in the European schools for children who cannot be integrated into general classes?

3. Does the Council consider that the funding allocated to the European schools is sufficient to provide them with specialised staff, to train staff and implement all the necessary adaptations and measures to provide children with special educational needs and mental disabilities with a high level of education?

4. Are there plans to set up specially trained interdisciplinary teams (e.g. educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, behavioural analysts) to support and provide advice to teachers, pupils and parents so that children receive a beneficial education at the European schools?

5. What measures are being taken to heighten the awareness of European school teachers about disability-related issues?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010