Special schools will not become demoralised “ghettos”

1st October 1999, 1:00am

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Special schools will not become demoralised “ghettos”

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/special-schools-will-not-become-demoralised-ghettos
A Government adviser has reassured teachers that special schools will not become demoralised “ghettos” serving pupils with the most severe needs, as a result of the drive towards an inclusive education system.

The Government envisages not only a continuing need for special schools, but also an expansion of their role to support mainstream teachers with special needs pupils in their classes.

Policy-makers do not want the morale of staff in special schools to collapse in the way it did in the old mental health hospitals when they faced closure as a result of “care in the community” policies, said Judy Sebba, of the Department for Education and Employment’s standards and effectiveness unit.

Speaking at the Mencap conference, she said: “The Government’s special needs programme is not setting targets for the closure of special schools. It is committed to ensuring opportunities for staff to act in slightly different roles.”

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