Dalton Plan

Our school is a Dalton school. We work according to the Dalton vision, but what is the Dalton Plan? The Dalton Plan adopts an approach where we tailor education to the needs, interests, and competencies of each child. The teaching is adaptive, which means we adjust the education to the needs of the students, as every child is different. We see the school as a safe place where children can practice, grow, and where making mistakes is part of the learning process.

Every child is different

Some children need more instruction or challenge than others. It is essential to understand that children learn at their own pace and that they work on different goals that match their individual needs. We see the school as a place for children to develop and unfold themselves. Making mistakes is allowed in a Dalton school, because that is how you learn!

Education and personal development

We aim for a balance between the student's personal development and society’s expectations of education. We want every child to develop in different areas - cognitively, creatively, socially, and personally.

‘You can see the Dalton vision reflected in our core values. Cooperation starts in our school with small grade activities for the kindergarteners. And in the upper classes, we have choice work where children can determine a part of the curriculum themselves.’
– Principal Alwin

The five core values of the Dalton Plan

We guide our education with these core values, each and every day:

1. Responsibility

We encourage students to plan their tasks themselves and set achievable goals. This makes them actively involved in and responsible for their own learning process. Additionally, we make children aware of themselves, their environment, and each other. Children clean up litter in the neighborhood, work together with different buddies, are given classroom chores, or take a trip to the theater, mosque or other cultural institutions.

2. Independence

Since children are responsible for their own learning process, they continually make small decisions; “What am I going to learn? How will I approach this? When will I do what? Do I need help or not?” Students work independently, think about problems they face, and try to solve these problems. Our teachers coach them in this process.

3. Cooperation

De Klipper is a place where students can practice cooperation. Children learn to interact with each other and understand how they can help others. This creates understanding and respect for one another. By working with buddies, children get to know different classmates continually. To facilitate cooperation, we have pleasant ‘train seats’ in the hallways at our locations where children can work together comfortably.

4. Reflection

We have children think about the choices they consciously and unconsciously make every day. They truly get to know themselves and can adjust their behavior or development accordingly. The teachers check in with the children how their schoolwork is working out, how well teamwork is getting along, and whether their goals are being met. Children check their own work, so they receive immediate feedback on their tasks. In this way, they know what they are doing right and what they can practice.

5. Effectiveness

We teach children to use their educational time as effectively as possible by giving them responsibility and independency, and by having them work together and reflect. This leaves more time for personal development.

For more information about the Dalton Plan, the core values, and how we apply them within our school, please read our Daltonhandboek.