Croatia: Adapted education programmes and individualised support
Croatia distinguishes between individualised teaching procedures, adjusted curricular content and special programmes for pupils with developmental disabilities. Understanding which programme has been determined is a useful starting point for a school meeting.
Use this guide to prepare informed questions. It is not an individual assessment or legal advice; procedures depend on your child's circumstances and the responsible school or authority.
Which programme applies to your child?
Croatia's official public-service portal describes adapted education programmes based on assessment of a pupil's psychophysical competences. The options include:
- Regular programme with individualised procedures: the regular curriculum is followed, but teaching procedures are adapted to the pupil.
- Regular programme with adjusted content and individualised procedures: the content is adjusted as well as the teaching approach.
- Special programme with individualised procedures: a specially structured curriculum matched to the pupil's abilities.
- Special programmes for everyday-life and work skills: an option described for pupils requiring this level of provision.
These programme categories are not interchangeable with an IEP or EHCP from another country. Ask the school to identify the actual Croatian programme and decision relevant to your child.
Who decides and how can families prepare?
The Croatian government's guidance explains that the programme is determined through a council examining the pupil's psychophysical condition, including at school enrolment or later if needs become apparent. Ask the school which official decision or assessment applies, and how parents can obtain and discuss it.
- Bring school work, observations and reports that show how your child participates in lessons.
- Ask whether the difficulty relates to how content is taught, which content is taught, or both.
- Ask which professionals are involved. Croatia's country profile describes educational rehabilitators, speech and language therapists, social pedagogues, teachers and pedagogical assistants among possible supports.
- Request a written account of the agreed adaptations, who is responsible and when the school will review progress.
Questions to ask at the next school meeting
- Which adapted programme or individualised procedures have been determined for my child?
- Who made that decision, and can we review the supporting documentation together?
- Which teaching methods, materials, assessments or learning goals will be adjusted?
- Who provides specialist or classroom support, and when will progress be reviewed?
- What is the school’s process if these arrangements are not meeting the child's needs?
Official Croatian information
- Croatian government: Programmes for pupils with developmental disabilities — programme types and the decision process.
- European Agency: Croatia's systems of support and specialist provision — background on school settings and support professionals.
These sources describe the framework; they do not determine an individual pupil's eligibility. Confirm the applicable decision and current arrangements with the school or responsible Croatian authority.