An interview with the Fritz Redlschool and the UMCU

‘We provide a safe place for children who need help with their behaviour, emotions and mental health‘

The Fritz Redl School

Located next to the Utrecht University Medical Centre (UMCU), the Fritz Redlschool is a school for children treated at the Development Perspective department of this hospital or other mental health organisations. The school also has places for pupils who have stalled at home and/or at school. Children are here temporarily and move on to a suitable place after a few months.   

Daniela and Tirza work at Fritz Redl School and explain what children and their parents can expect from the school. "We are a cluster 4 school. That means we offer special education to children who need help with their behaviour, emotions and mental health. Many of these children are placed within the Psychiatry Department at UMCU. During this pathway, they receive education at our school. We are a 'switching school'. This means that children stay here temporarily and then move on to a suitable place," says Daniëla. "The Fritz Redlschool is part of the treatment plan at UMCU and together we agree on what education looks like for a pupil. We make sure pupils build the skills and confidence they need to continue developing and learning," explains Tirza.  

Structure

Primary education at Fritz Redlschool consists of 5 classes with a maximum of 12 pupils. Each group has a teacher and teaching assistant. In addition, there is always an extra teacher who can help if needed. "We work with a fixed daily programme in which clarity and structure are paramount. We offer the same subjects as an ordinary primary school. But it is not possible for all pupils to be taught all day. Therefore, we look at what is needed for each pupil and when and at what level they can follow a subject," says Daniëla. "When children start at Fritz Redlschool, we meet with the parents. Based on that conversation and the UMCU treatment plan, we make a development perspective plan. This is a plan that sets out the pupil's educational needs and goals. We also determine which next step the pupil can take. That could be the old school, a new regular school or another form of special education or day care."  

Safe place

"Many of our students have experienced unpleasant things. We therefore feel it is important that our school is a safe place. We provide an environment where we help students improve and grow. We call this trauma-sensitive education with a fancy word," explains Daniëla. "We always see children's behaviour as a sign that they need something. Our teachers therefore try to respond predictably and remain neutral." Although some pupils and their parents struggle with the situation they are in, children also find support from each other. Tirza: "Children all experience their time at our school in their own way. There are children who love it here, because they finally no longer feel like outsiders."