Newcomer schools and classes

For primary school children there are three options:

• Schools that only offer education for newcomers. 
  Children are usually ready to stream into regular Dutch education after 12 to 18 months. 
  For example: Primary school Wereldwijzer in Eindhoven offers education for pupils aged 4 to 12 years who come from abroad. Pupils can start at any time during the school year. In 40 to 60 weeks they will learn to understand, speak, read and write Dutch, so that they can transfer to regular education.

• Regular primary schools that have special newcomer classes alongside the regular Dutch groups. 
  Children are usually ready to stream into regular Dutch education after 12 to 18 months. 

• Regular primary schools that integrate newcomers into the regular Dutch groups from the start. 
  The children then usually receive additional support in the form of a special language class or an individual plan.
  For example: Primary school De Groene Vlinderin Eindhoven. Children are placed in a regular class from the start. This enables them to meet their Dutch classmates and helps to speed up the process of learning Dutch. They also attend a special language class where an experienced teacher works with them. In this class, children learn how to speak, read and write in Dutch.

Many primary schools in the Brabant region offer newcomers classes. 

Secondary schools for newcomers aged 12 to 18 are called international transition classes (Internationale Schakelklas / ISK) or first admission for non-native speakers  (Eerste Opvang van Anderstaligen / EOA). The program lasts approximately two years, and students then stream into regular education. Children aged 12 to 16 years stream into secondary education (VMBO, HAVO or VWO) while those aged 16+ usually go to MBO, possibly HBO, adult education or into the workforce. 

There are currently 4 EOAs in the Brainport region: 

• PIUS X - for students aged 12 to 18 living in Bergeijk, Bladel, Cranendonck, Eersel, Heeze-Leende, Oirschot, Reusel-De Mierden, Valkenswaard, Veldhoven, or Waalre
• Global College Eindhoven - part of Stedelijk College Eindhoven and for students aged 12 to 16 living in Eindhoven, Best, Nuenen, or Son en Breugel  
• Summa - VOAT  - for students aged 15.5 to 18 living in the municipality of Eindhoven, Best, Nuenen, or Son en Breugel
• Jan van Brabant College - Gasthuisstraat - for students aged 12 to 18living in Helmond, Deurne, Asten, Someren, Geldrop-Mierlo, Gemert-Bakel, or Laarbeek

 For EOA/ISK schools in other parts of Brabant, see the LOWAN website.

There are also some regular secondary schools that offer extra Dutch lessons (NT2 / Taalklas) or other appropriate support instead. For example, Stedelijk College Eindhoven and Sondervick College. Some knowledge of Dutch is usually still required for such schools. There is no central database for these schools but you can check the website either of each individual school or the various school groups.