Be realistic about inclusion

20th September 2002, 1:00am
Sadly, inclusion of disabled pupils, let alone staff, does not only require cash, but also positive attitudes, imagination, flexibility and, most of all, will.

Inclusion needs good homeschool liaison and realistic expectations.

While areas such as London struggle to maintain basic staffing levels and there is no career structure for the many excellent classroom assistants, real inclusion will only be an aspiration. Many special needs pupils are being excluded. It would seem that with the issue of disabled inclusion, just like with action to prevent exclusions, there is a desperate national need for dissemination of good practice. We also need disability-awareness training for everybody in education.

So who is going to give a lead on achieving this, and where will the finance come from?

D Jansen (Mrs) “An Cuan”

465 Wickham Road

Shirley

Croydon.