THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUPPORT:

1) Special Support Class (Pull-Out)

– For a student with more intensive needs, some public regular schools will have a special support class. 

– BUT, not all schools will have this available, so this will be something to discuss at the city or district hall when you first visit. 

– Compared to a special needs school, a special support class in the regular school will allow for more opportunities for interaction with all students. 

– The student will spend most of the day in the special support class, but for certain lessons, events, as well as break and lunchtimes all students will be together.

2) Resource Room (Push-In and Pull-Out)

– For a student with less intensive needs, there will be a plan constructed where the student will spend part of the day in what is called a resource room, and part of the day in the mainstream classroom

– The student will be pulled out to the resource room for areas in which they need more support, and be in the mainstream classroom for the rest of the day

– Within this plan, there may also be an assistant or learning support assistant/teacher who will support the student in the classroom.

*While although it is not guaranteed that all schools will have a resource room, most will. For the schools that do not have a resource room available, they may organize an arrangement where the student can attend a nearby school for part of the week that does have a resource room available.

3) Regular Classroom Accommodations and Modifications

– For a student with very mild needs, the third type of support will take shape as accommodations and modifications within the regular classroom from the head teacher. 

– BUT, this will happen quite rarely, however, due to the system of IQ tests that is set up in the Japanese education system. 

– If the student has an IQ that scores above the minimum, they are likely to not receive any type of support. 

– HOWEVER, if the teacher is aware of certain needs that the student has that require attention, and they make the extra effort, the student can receive accommodations and modifications constructed by the teacher.