OFSTED'S REPORT ON SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Thursday 13 July 2006

Commenting on OFSTED’s report on inclusion and special education Steve Sinnott General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest Union said:

“ OFSTED’s report on special educational needs is the final nail in the coffin for the sterile inclusion versus segregation debate. To borrow from Bill Clinton’s famous phrase it’s the quality of education that counts, stupid.

“All the evidence points to the fact that special needs teaching in many mainstream schools, however, is under resourced and poorly supported particularly for youngsters with behavioural difficulties.

“Government and local authorities must commit themselves to maintaining a wide range of provision including special schools, support services and units and stop the trend towards a one size fits all approach to special education.

The Government has a perfect opportunity to act. The Education and Inspections Bill currently going through Parliament should place a duty on local authorities to secure a wide range of provision to meet the wide range of special needs.