This will double funding for care during school hours for these pupils to €10 million per year. This will make it easier for schools to organise care for these pupils.
For many schools, organising care during school hours is complicated. The coalition agreement included a commitment to simplify this.
De Jonge and Slob want the various care budgets for pupils with complex care needs during school hours to be pooled. In their letter to the House of Representatives, the ministers write that pilots will be set up in several regions for this purpose. The intention is for municipalities to be given responsibility for purchasing all care during school hours using the pooled budget.
Until then, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport is making this additional €5 million available to help schools, pupils and their parents reduce coordination problems and administrative burdens. In addition, experts will soon help schools arrange funding for care during school hours. These people know their way around the various care systems and know which types of care can be claimed.
The measures are part of a broader package aimed at increasing children's development opportunities through better cooperation between education and care institutions. Since last June, a programme team led by Rene Peeters has been working on this.