In this guide

  1. What learning support means in Amsterdam
  2. How we chose these schools
  3. Schools to investigate for learning support
  4. Questions to ask each school
  5. Related guides
  6. Frequently asked questions

What learning support means in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has two connected tracks. There are internationally oriented schools that are partly government funded and follow Dutch international guidelines, and there are fully independent international schools. Both usually run a learning support or student wellbeing function, though the depth of specialist provision varies and the subsidised schools work within Dutch admissions rules. The Netherlands also has a national framework for additional support that can interact with a school's own provision, so ask each school how it fits within that system. Because the pool is small, contact admissions and the support lead early, as places in the more specialist programmes are limited.

Whichever school you consider, treat learning support as a live capacity question rather than a fixed feature. Ask about it in the same enquiry as curriculum and international school fees in Amsterdam, and read our overview of secondary school fees so the support fee sits in context. The starting point for the wider picture is the Amsterdam city guide.

How we chose these schools

This shortlist is drawn from established international schools in Amsterdam that operate a full year group range and are large enough to sustain a named support function. We have not scored or ranked them on special educational needs, because there is no independent, verified SEN rating for the city and it would be wrong to imply one. Instead we point you to schools worth an early enquiry and tell you what to confirm. Most run a recognised curriculum such as the IB curriculum or the British curriculum, both of which offer approved exam access arrangements for eligible pupils. Every school named below links to its full profile, and you should verify current provision directly with each one.

Schools to investigate for learning support

Each school below has a full profile on this site. The notes describe what to confirm rather than a verified SEN grade, because provision and places change each year.

  • International School of Amsterdam, a full IB continuum school and one of the oldest IB schools in the world, with an established student support structure. Ask which support tiers currently have places.
  • Amsterdam International Community School, a partly subsidised international school across several campuses. Ask the learning support lead about specialist staffing and how individual plans are reviewed.
  • British School of Amsterdam, a British curriculum through school. Ask about the learning support model, entry assessment and required documentation.
  • Amity International School Amsterdam, an IB school. Ask directly which needs the school can currently support and how provision is coordinated across the years.
  • Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam, a Montessori secondary school. Ask how its approach accommodates additional needs and what support staff are in place.

Compare schools side by side

Our school comparison tool lets you put up to three Amsterdam schools head to head on curriculum, fees and stage range, then note your questions for each learning support team. For a shortlist tailored to your child's profile, book a short call through contact. We take no school referral commissions.

Questions to ask each school

The same handful of questions will quickly separate a real offer from a vague one. Ask who leads learning support and how many specialist staff work under them, because a single overstretched coordinator is very different from a staffed department. Ask how individual education plans are written, shared with class teachers and reviewed through the year. Ask what needs the school can currently support and, honestly, what it cannot, so you are not relying on the child settling in before problems surface. Ask what documentation the school wants at application and whether it will assess your child before offering a place. Finally, ask what the support costs on top of tuition and to put that figure in writing. Schools that answer these clearly are usually the ones with provision worth having.

It also helps to visit during a normal school day rather than at an open evening, and to ask to meet the learning support lead in person. The way a school talks about its most complex pupils tells you more than any policy document, and a calm, specific answer is a strong signal of a settled and genuinely inclusive setting. Return to the Amsterdam city guide to line these visits up alongside the rest of your shortlist.

Frequently asked questions

Do Amsterdam international schools accept children with SEN?

Each school assesses whether it can meet a child's needs, and the partly subsidised schools also work within Dutch admissions rules. Share full reports early and speak to the support lead to confirm a genuine fit.

How does the Dutch support framework affect international schools?

The Netherlands has a national system for additional educational support that can interact with a school's own provision. Ask each school how it works within that framework for your child's profile.

What documents should I prepare?

Recent educational psychology or specialist reports, any current individual education plan and school reports. Schools rely on these to decide whether they can offer an appropriate place.

Can my child sit IB or British exams with support?

Yes. Both boards offer approved access arrangements such as extra time for eligible pupils. Ask each school how it applies for and records these.