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Netherlands, Rotterdam
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
1. Submit the Application and Required Documentation:
To begin the process, parents need to submit a completed application form alongside a copy of the child’s passport, recent school reports, and proof of eligibility, such as a letter from an employer or a temporary employment contract. It is important to provide detailed information about the child’s learning needs, including copies of any assessments from the past two years conducted by psychologists, physiotherapists, or speech therapists. Parents should ensure that all reports and assessments are fully translated into English prior to submission.
2. Attend an Initial Meeting:
Once the application and documents are received, the Director will reach out to parents to schedule a meeting to discuss the application. Following this meeting and a subsequent discussion with the Pupil Monitoring Co-ordinator, the school will determine if Lighthouse is a viable option for the child. This step allows both the parents and the school staff to clarify the child's specific needs and the school's capacity to support them.
3. Consent to Information Exchange and Further Assessments:
Before making a final admissions decision, Lighthouse staff may need to consult with the child’s current school or therapists to gather more context. Parents will be asked to sign a consent form agreeing to this exchange of information with outside professionals. In some cases, the Lighthouse Assessment Team may require additional assessments to be completed; parents should be aware that these specific assessments incur separate fees.
4. Obtain a Statement of Eligibility:
Because admissions comply with Dutch law for Tailored Education (Passend Onderwijs), every child must receive a formal Statement of Eligibility (Toelatingsverklaring) from the local Dutch Education Board in their residential district. Lighthouse staff will assist parents directly with the application for this statement. It is a mandatory legal requirement before the child can officially start at the school.
The Lighthouse Special Education website does not specify the operation of a formal waitlist or applicant pool system. The policy states that children between the ages of 5 and 12 may be admitted at any point during the school year, strictly subject to the current availability of places. For the separate Three Little Ships Early Intervention program, admissions priority is specifically given to children who turn three years old before October 1st of that academic year.
Located in the Netherlands, Lighthouse Special Education is an international primary school for children with complex special educational needs, offering education in English. The school serves ages 3 to 13 in two small classes (5–8 and 8–13), each with up to eight pupils, and a preschool class, Three Little Ships, for ages 2.5 to 5. Curriculum combines the British National Curriculum, the International Primary Curriculum (UK), and the Dutch Primary Education Curriculum, with an individualized program for every student. For 5–13 year olds, it emphasizes basic skills in communication, reading, spelling, language and maths, using Edmark Reading Program and Numicon, and supports progress through tailored IEPs reviewed twice yearly. Learners access iPads with age-appropriate apps; therapies—speech and language, physiotherapy, sensory integration, and occupational therapy—are provided on-site by English-speaking, qualified therapists. The school focuses on social and emotional development, independence, and preparing students for school life within a supportive, multilingual environment.
