Changes to the management and organisation of support for visually impaired pupils could offer lessons to those working towards greater inclusion of children with behavioural, physical and other difficulties. Elspeth McDonald believes that in many ways support for such pupils is at the stage support for the visually impaired was 10 or even 15 years ago and to make similar progress comparable structures need to be set up.
Lochgelly High’s assistant headteacher, Richard Power, agrees. “The children that are most problematic are the ones with behavioural difficulties. There need to be people who come in - like the visual impairment service did here with Stuart - and say to the teachers: ‘I understand why you’re worried; here’s what you can do and what we can put in place.’
“Behavioural difficulties is going to be the hardest path, because you’ll not only get teachers saying they shouldn’t be working with those kids but you’ll also get parents saying they don’t want them in the same class as their children. They wouldn’t say that with visually impaired kids.”
