Simon Burdis’s claim in his letter that the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE) supports inadequately resourced inclusion could not be further from the truth (TES, October 8).
He inaccurately states that CSIE receives Government money to “wage a campaign”. The only such money CSIE has ever received was to develop and publish the widely popular Index for Inclusion in 2000, which was placed in every school and education authority in England and Wales.
The index, now translated into 21 languages, is a set of materials that helps ordinary schools break down barriers to learning and participation for 100 per cent of pupils and has been extensively promoted by the Department for Education and Skills and other “official” bodies. CSIE’s annual budget comes primarily from a few charitable trusts and foundations that also support a gradual move towards a desegregated education system.
Through the index, other publications and conferences, CSIE has regularly stated the importance of properly planned and resourced inclusive education. CSIE bases its work on human rights principles.
The inclusion agenda has not been “hijacked” by CSIE, as declared by Mr Burdis - the inclusion agenda was started by the centre in 1982 - and CSIE has helped to promote over the years the many thousands of examples of good practice of including disabled pupils in ordinary schools.
Mark Vaughan Founder and co-director Centre for Studies onInclusive Education Frenchay Campus Coldharbour Lane Bristol
