Special education is provided for children with moderate or severe learning difficulties (e.g. a hearing, speech, or sight impediment, a physical disability or autism) or a behavioural problem, which prevents or hinders them from attending a mainstream school for their age group.
However, whenever possible, children with special education needs (SEN) are educated in mainstream schools, in order to give them the same education as other children. There are around 2,000 SEN schools in the UK (day and boarding schools), most of which are state schools, operated and financed by LEAs.
There are, however, too few special schools and it’s estimated that around a third of pupils with special education needs are educated in mainstream schools (although there are often educational and social reasons for this). Some special schools are run privately by voluntary bodies, which may receive a grant from central government for capital expenditure and equipment.
Day-to-day running costs are met by the LEAs for pupils placed in voluntary schools. Some private schools provide education wholly or mainly for children with special education needs. Most LEAs provide an educational psychological service for children with behavioural problems.
Some LEAs provide special teaching and facilities for gifted children (those with very high IQs), although there’s little provision for young geniuses. In the past, the only avenue open to most parents was to pay for private tuition or apply for a private school scholarship.
Mensa, the society for the super-intelligent, has established the Mensa Foundation for Gifted Children, which helps to develop the potential of gifted children through special schools and individual counselling. For information, write to Mensa, St John’s House, St John’s Square, Wolverhampton WV2 4AH (www.mensa.org.uk ). It’s important to choose the best possible school for a talented or gifted child.
The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE), 1C Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2DQ (020-7354 8318, www.ace-ed.org.uk ) can answer questions and give advice on special education.
Contact your local LEA for information about special schools in your area or write to the Department for Education and Skills (which publishes numerous booklets about special education downloadable from www.dfes.gov.uk/sen ) for a list of special schools throughout the UK. There are several books available for parents of children with special needs, including Which? School for Special Needs by Derek Bingham (John Catt Educational).
 Blinklist |
 Bloglines |
 Del.icio.us |
 Digg |
 Diigo |
 Facebook |
 Furl |
 Google |
 Ma.gnolia |
 Mr.Wong |
 Netvouz |
 Simply |
 Spurl |
 StumbleUpon |
 Technorati |
 Yahoo |
