YOUR report on special needs (TES, May 23) cites as an example the inclusive strategies of the London borough of Newham.
The report also says that some schools that are being closed by Manchester are those that “would not exist” in other authorities, such as primaries for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. In fact, Newham has a primary EBD school, and it is bigger than my own, in neighbouring Tower Hamlets.
It is worth asking whether there are not a small number of children in any inner-city borough who are not better off in such a setting. Newham, the benchmark, clearly thinks so.
Brian Steedman
The Cherry Trees school Bow Tower Hamlets, London E3