Reducing the rights to appropriate schooling for children with disabilities

Oh and it does work the other way round as well. I have seen many children wrongly placed in specialist services which is also a real cause for concern.

growstuff

Glorianny

I haven't questioned anyone's abilities or experiences on this thread but it seems all and sundry think they can question mine.
As far as special units go in mainstream schools. Yes they are great and I experienced an excellent one in a school which dealt with children with limited or no sight. They spent time in the unit but went into mainstream with support for lessons they could manage. I see no reason why such support shouldn't be provided for all children with special needs. But I don't expect it to happen. It would require a great deal of money, some changes in the curriculum and a lot of change amongst teaching staff some of whom can't manage to deal with any child who is slightly different.

Most teachers in mainstream schools certainly can deal with any child who is slightly different, but you're undestimating the specialist imput some pupils with complex needs require.

You would imagine so wouldn't you? But I can tell you from experience some of them can't handle any child who is even slightly different and just rely on the fact that they teach in schools with good catchment areas and mostly easy to manage children. It always amazes me that some schools and staff cope with numbers of children ,who have multiple and complex needs, with hugely varying levels of family support, and continue to educate those children through crisis after crisis, whereas other schools are unable to cope with one or two children who are different. I was reading an old report of my son's the other day , he had a statement and was having some support for his dyslexia, so it was known to staff. But there was the statement X has ability and shows understanding of the subject unfortunately his written work continually fails to demonstrate this. - well yeah he's dyslexic He needs to apply himself more -well no he needs to be able to present his work in other ways. But that was the level of understanding for one child with special needs.

I know of one primary school, mainstream, but housed in a former special school, which has retained may of its former facilities such as access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, hydrotherapy pool, soundproofed and cushioned rooms, sound equipment and specially adapted units. It is able to integrate a much higher number of special needs than the average school and retains former experienced staff. But it is the only one in this area. There are more, but few and far between.
My village primary has six acres left from the original endowment from a local landowner but the local authority have commandeered the land for yet more housing, despite the school, built for 360 pupils, housing 430.