W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen

What W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen does

W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen is a public special education school (openbaar speciaal onderwijs) located in Groningen, Netherlands, operated as part of the Openbaar Onderwijs Groningen foundation which governs 37 public schools across special, primary, and secondary education in the Northern Netherlands. The school serves children aged 4-13 with severe learning difficulties (ZML — zeer moeilijk lerende) through a methodology centered on individual Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplannen (OPPs) evaluated twice yearly with parents, with transition pathways to VSO TP, VSO Dunk, or appropriate follow-on placements at age 12, plus a two-year post-leaving follow-up commitment. The service portfolio has expanded beyond the core SO offering to include two specialized sub-brands: HBS Metis (twice-exceptional, highly gifted children with learning/behavioral barriers, ages 8-13, based in De Biotoop, Haren) and De Talentklass (autism spectrum students ages 8-13, orientation and full-time groups). Add-on modules include speech therapy, music therapy, swimming instruction (with on-site pool at the main Paterswoldseweg location), and the Gezonde School wellness program with Sport & Bewegen and Welbevinden certifications.

The school is funded entirely through the Dutch public special education system: primary revenue flows from Toelaatbaarheidsverklaringen (TLVs) allocated via Samenwerkingsverband PO2001, with additional financing through the Experiment Onderwijszorgarrangementen (OZA) pilot authorized by the Ministry of OCW through 2028. No tuition is charged to parents; the only commercial transaction is a €60/hour fee for HBS Metis ambulatory support delivered to schools outside Openbaar Onderwijs Groningen. Technology is operational rather than transformative — Bordfolio digital portfolios, Samen1plan six-week development evaluations, Basicly digital literacy, Social Schools parent communication app, and Indigo for TLV registration. No AI/ML capability is disclosed.

The customer base is restricted to Groningen-region families requiring TLV-mediated placements, channeled through the centralized Centraal Aanmeld Team Schakelvoorziening (CATS) for specialized programs. The school is supported by a broad partnership ecosystem — Cosis (care), SOi consortium, KCOO (orthopedagogues and psychologists), VRIJDAG (arts), Special Heroes (sports), Accare/Molendrift and Team050 (school polis) — that delivers integrated education-care services. Leadership is led by directeur H. Bal with adjunct-directeuren I. Oosterhuis (SO) and M. Werksma (VSO Dunk); headcount stands at 24 across three physical locations.

Name

W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen

Legal name

W.A. van Lieflandschool

Website

https://wavanlieflandschool.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen is a Dutch public special education school for children aged 4-13 with severe learning difficulties, autism, or twice-exceptional profiles, operating under Openbaar Onderwijs Groningen and funded through government TLV allocations. It also runs HBS Metis for twice-exceptional gifted students and De Talentklass for autism spectrum students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Special needs schooling
• Developmental support education
• Autism spectrum education
• Twice-exceptional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Education: Public special education school funded by the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid) through passend onderwijs arrangements. Funding comes via Samenwerkingsverband PO2001 for Toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (TLV) placements. Additional financing from Onderwijszorgarrangementen (OZA) pilot through Ministry of OCW until 2028.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

W.A. van Lieflandschool provides public special primary education (SO) for children aged 4-13 with severe learning difficulties (ZML), delivered through individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplannen (OPP) twice-yearly evaluations. The school supplements core SO with specialized sub-brands HBS Metis (twice-exceptional children aged 8-13) and De Talentklass (autism spectrum students aged 8-13), plus supporting therapies including logopedie, muziektherapie, and zwemonderwijs.

Product overview

W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen is an open public school for special education (SO) offering a unified educational platform for students with learning difficulties aged 4-13. The core product is the SO program supplemented by specialized sub-brands: HBS Metis for twice-exceptional gifted students with learning/behavioral barriers, and De Talentklass for students with autism spectrum disorder. Post-SO pathways include VSO TP (task-oriented day activities) and VSO Dunk (vocational). Supporting modules include logopedie, muziektherapie, zwemonderwijs, and the Gezonde School wellness program. Educational tracking uses Bordfolio digital portfolios and Samen1plan development evaluation, delivered through Social Schools parent communication and Basicly digital literacy curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HBS Metis: Specialized educational facility for doubly exceptional (2E) children aged 8-13 who are high-performing gifted students with accompanying learning or behavioral barriers. Located at De Biotoop, Haren.
• De Talentklass

Products and services

• W.A. van Lieflandschool SO (Speciaal Onderwijs) Public special primary education (SO) for children aged 4-13 with severe learning difficulties (zeer moeilijk lerende kinderen), delivered through individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplannen (OPP) evaluated twice yearly. Prepares students for appropriate follow-up education such as VSO TP or VSO Dunk.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students transition to appropriate follow-up education at age 12 and to suitable destinations at age 18
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CosiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare partner providing group support on various levels, funded by municipality. Cosis also operates a Kinderdagcentrum (Children's Day Center) with a pre-school group located at the Paterswoldseweg location where children can acclimate to school environment.
• Speciaal Onderwijs Instituut (SOi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of special education schools including all W.A. van Lieflandschool locations, Groninger Buitenschool, Mytylschool Prins Johan Friso (Haren and Emmen), and both SBO Dr. Bekenkampschool locations. Facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Kenniscentrum Openbaar Onderwijs (KCOO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge center with orthopedagogues, psychologists, ambulatory coaches, and psychodiagnostic staff who support, investigate, advise, and assist students, teachers, and parents within Openbaar Onderwijs Groningen.
• Kunstencentrum VRIJDAGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts center partnership delivering customized arts and culture education program with seven themes. Focus on identity and self-presentation. Two art teachers provide instruction aligned with school curriculum.
• Stichting Special HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization through which students in special education discover various sports through workshops and are encouraged to join sports clubs in their community.
• OBS De PloegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school sharing the Hoogkerk building. Children from both schools meet at the playground. Schools also collaborate on various events and activities.
• Accare/Molendrift (School Poli)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool poli involved in Talentklass program. Collaborates on Verklarende Analyse (explanatory analysis) development and provides behavioral expertise. Participates in six-week evaluation cycles with parents and teachers.
• Team050 (School Poli)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool poli for HBS Metis students outside Groningen municipality. Provides behavioral experts and coaches suitable counselors. Responsible for maintaining and coaching VA (Verklarende Analyse) documentation. Indicates CJG or Sociaal Team for placement.
• VRIJDAG (Kunst & Cultuur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts and culture center providing customized program with seven themes for Kunst & Cultuur and burgerschap education. Deskundigen (experts) deployed through demand and supply model. Focus on 'wie je bent' (who you are) and 'jezelf presenteren' (presenting yourself).
• Bureau HaltminorOthersOrganization providing annual digital safety education to students who can understand the content. Training covers digital bullying and dangers of sharing information online.
• Centraal Aanmeld Team Schakelvoorzieningen (CATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral intake team for specialized facilities in the cooperation. Coordinates placement of children with specialized needs across Metis, Talentklass, and other specialist provisions. Schools register via Indigo system.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bartiméus: Dutch foundation offering education, care and support for blind and visually impaired people, including specialised schools. Comparable as a long-standing Dutch non-profit special education provider operating under government funding with embedded multidisciplinary expertise.
• Koninklijke Visio: Dutch organisation providing support and education for people with visual impairments, including dedicated schools and expertise centres. Comparable in operating model (non-profit, government-funded multidisciplinary special education) though serving a different sensory disability.
• Kentalis: Large Dutch organisation providing special education, care and services primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, with multiple regional schools. Comparable as a Dutch non-profit public special education provider funded via government arrangements, though focused on a different disability niche.

Others

• CED-Groep: Dutch educational support organisation working with schools on special needs, behaviour, and learning difficulties. Comparable as an ecosystem participant in Dutch passend onderwijs delivery, providing ambulante begeleiding and expertise to schools serving populations similar to those at W.A. van Lieflandschool.

Direct peers

• Groninger Buitenschool: Special education provider in Groningen and SOi consortium partner of W.A. van Lieflandschool. Operates similar government-funded TLV placement pathways for children requiring specialist educational support.
• Dr. Bekenkampschool: SBO school operating two locations in Groningen and member of the same SOi consortium as W.A. van Lieflandschool. Provides comparable special primary education services within the same regional Samenwerkingsverband.
• Mytylschool Prins Johan Friso: Special education school located in Haren and Emmen and listed as a SOi consortium partner alongside W.A. van Lieflandschool. Serves comparable K-12 special education populations within Northern Netherlands and shares consortium governance structures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w.a.-van-lieflandschool-groningen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about W.A. van Lieflandschool Groningen