A short presentation of the Special Education Centre Janez Levec

The curriculum of mainstream schools may be too difficult for some pupils to follow and it frequently occurs that the parents themselves are the first to notice this. Doctors and experts at mainstream schools also play an important role in recognizing such pupils in their preschool years or the first three years of their elementary schooling. When parents decide to send a child to a school with modified education programme and educational standards at a lower level, they need to forward their application for such enrolment to the National Education Institute of Slovenia in order to begin the SEN referral process. The SEN Referral Commission then issues an expert report on the placement of the pupil and the most suitable educational programme for him or her. The administrative body, in this case the SEN Referral Commission with the National Education Institute, then delivers a SEN Guidance Order based on the aforementioned expert opinion. The parents can appeal against this Order with the Ministry of Education and Sport. The SEN Guidance Order determines which programme the pupil will be placed in and whether he or she should be transferred from the mainstream school into a special needs school. The same procedure applies for enrolment into the Special education programme and the Tutoring programme. The school to which the pupil has been assigned undertakes the obligation to prepare an individual educational plan for this pupil within 30 days of placement. The parents have the right to take part in the preparation of this educational plan.

Our main objectives in working with young people:

• to introduce substitutive educational programmes based on the recognition and strengthening of the child’s abilities and positive self-image and to enable the pupils to fulfil their needs and develop their independence,
• to introduce new educational programmes for children with special needs who have been pushed to the margins of society by dramatic family circumstances.
• to respond fast and persistently to all types of abuse and stigmatization of children and young people with special needs,
• to develop and encourage a support system for enabling children to enroll into those education programmes that will best develop their psychological and physiological abilities,
• to support the introduction of new programmes at the lower levels of professional education and training for graduates of special education elementary schools and to monitor their achievements until they have taken up their first employment.

Yearly projects for the young:

• The ”Play with me” festival. Its main goal is to enable special needs children to enjoy activities alongside other children their age. The festival consists of three parts: a football tournament, a four day festival in the centre of Ljubljana and a national art competition ending in an exhibition in the Ljubljana castle.
• Holiday activities. The main goal is to enable children and young people with no other opportunity for summer activities and no supervision during that period to spend quality time together.
• The ”School for life” camp is a camp for young people with special needs. The activities are mainly aimed at encouraging a positive and responsible attitude of children and young people to themselves and the environment. Following the methods of experience-based learning the pupils use their experience to accustom themselves to independent life outside of schools and their home environment. These camps are organized by all our units.
• International exchange of pupils. The main goal is to get to know the world beyond the borders of Slovenia and meet new friends through creative activities. This project is supported by the European Union.
• Special Olympics. The main goal is to socialize while promoting physical education and psychophysical activities.
• Europe in school. The main goals of this project are to enable young people to develop personal and social skills, knowledge and competence which will aid them in responding to challenges of modern societies in the enlarged Europe.
• Functional learning. The main goal of this programme is to help pupils ”learn for life” as it is intended for pupils with severe mental disabilities and undeveloped speech.
• Elements of the Montessori method. The main characteristics emphasized by the Montessori method are confidence and independence. The latter is encouraged by teaching the child practical skills and at the same time enabling him or her to exercise control over his or her own learning process.
• On the threshold of independence. The main goal is to prepare young people living in our homes so that they can enter adulthood and find employment. This is achieved by including them in various activities.

Other services of our Centre include:
A. Social Service matters (subsidies, grants, welfare, counselling…)
B. psychological counselling and psychological assistance
C. physiotherapeutical assistance
D. logopedical care
E. psychiatric assistance with mental health problems

Our motto in working with young people:
To ensure that all our pupils and young people are given the same opportunities for their personal and intellectual development and to enable them the highest possible degree of socialization and normalization within the wider community.