An increasing number of special needs children could be integrated in mainstream schools as Wigan pilots a new government initiative. The authority has received £106,000 to pioneer a new proposed policy on inclusion. If successful it would be expanded across the country.
Wigan Observer, January 1, 1999.

After years of being viewed as something of an educational black hole, the East End of London has at last got something to celebrate. Newham, one of the most deprived areas in western Europe has received a glowing report from the Government’s Education watchdog, Ofsted. By purging weak teachers and refusing to allow poverty to become an excuse for failure the borough has become a model of success against the odds. Jane Johnson is head of St Stephen’s primary school which, in line with Newham’s policy of accommodating as many children as possible in mainstream schools, has its fair share of children with special educational needs. They include childen with autism and refugees, many scarred by the wars they have escaped. Some of the children come to the school with emotional and behavioural problems, but Mrs Johnson is proud that she has never expelled or even suspended a child in her 16 years as head.
Evening Standard, London, January 7, 1999.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind is conducting a pilot project to link three special schools with a cluster of mainstream schools to give 200 blind or partially sighted children access to the Internet using speech synthesis and braille printers. Adept at touch typing, the blind children will be able to listen to information held on educational websites and download text in large format or braille. Lesley Waddell, RNIB’s national ICT development officer said: ‘The government wants every child to have an Internet address by 2002. Our project offers the blind equality of opportunity and access to information and knowledge’.
The Times, January 8, 1999.

Nine county councillors are to monitor all moves in Gloucestershire to integrate children with learning difficulties into mainstream schools. This follows the decision of the education committee to proceed at a much slower pace than suggested by officials. Councillors fear another care in the community style fiasco and a huge backlash from parents if children are moved from the county’s 16 special schools without the money and trained teachers to cope with them properly.
Gloucester Citizen, January 9, 1999.

Campaigners from the threatened Barbara Priestman School have been told by visiting Education Minister, David Blunkett, that their case will be given a fair hearing. The 20-strong group of protesters were delighted at the news after years of campaigning to save their school from closure. Mr Blunkett, who was opening a new careers service based in the city’s library, stopped especially to meet the determined protesters.
Sunderland Echo, January 9, 1999.

Staff and parents today spoke out against a shake-up of education of disabled children in Blackburn and Darwen which could lead to the closure of some special schools. Many special school heads expressed their concerns but Jane Barrie, head of Dame Evelyn Fox school, is backing the Council. She said: ‘This is part of a national review that has been recommended by the Government. I am very confident that the councillors will not introduce any measures that will not be in the interests of children with special needs in the borough.’
Lancashire Evening Telegraph (Blackburn), January 9, 1999.

Schemes to help West Country pupils with special education needs to be more integrated into mainstream schools have been given an £865,421 boost by Schools Standard Minister Estelle Morris. She said: ‘The programme addresses the future development of education for these children and confirms our commitment to increasing inclusion where parents want it and appropriate support can be provided.’ The grants will be awarded in two categories — standard special needs provision which will help finance staff and resources, and pilot projects designed to bring together special and mainstream schools, including integrating individual children and monitoring their progress.
Western Morning News (Plymouth), January 11, 1999.

A teacher who let a five-year-old boy smack six bullies with a ruler has lost her industrial tribunal case it was revealed yesterday. Brenda Davies, 51, had allowed a special needs pupil to tap the hands of children who bullied him at Tennyson Road Primary School in Luton, Beds, but the hearing rejected her claim.
The Sun, January 12, 1999.

Physically disabled schoolchildren in Bury will get a £100,000 boost. The Government grant will be used to improve disabled access to schools across the borough. At the same time education chiefs approved ambitious plans to improve facilities for the disabled in schools. Head of pupil services, Mrs Trish Dawson, said:’It is about putting disability on the agenda of every school and giving childen the chance to be educated within their local community instead of travelling to specialist schools outside the borough.’
Radcliff Times, January 14, 1999.

Thousands of parents with children who require special help are to be consulted in a major review by Sandwell education chiefs. Chair of Sandwell’s education committee, Councillor Bill Thomas, said initial signs showed parents wanted their children educated in mainstream schools. ‘Sandwell is moving ahead with what parents want — that is children going to mainstream schools and receiving the support they need.’
Sandwell Express and Star, January 25, 1999.

Two London special schools today unveiled a surprise legal move to thwart proposals to shut them. Lambeth Council has recommended the closure of three specials schools for deaf, blind, physically handicapped and emotionally disturbed children, integrating hundred of pupils into the borough’s mainstream schools. Tulse Hill’s Thurlow Park and Turney School in Dulwich have opted out of Council control and say they will fight closure in court if necessary.
Evening Standard (London), January 26, 1999.

An extra one million pounds is being put into education in Wales to help children with special needs. The money, announced yesterday by Welsh education minister Peter Hain, is being coupled with an action programme for the future of special education which includes plans to give better support to children and parents, better training for teachers and more inclusion in mainstream classrooms for special needs youngsters. Mr Hain launched the programme at Tywyn Primary in Port Talbot, a school which has made enormous strides in providing inclusive education. Tywyn’s SEN pupils have a wide range of difficulties including learning difficulties, restricted speech, autism and cerebral palsy. Mr Hain, who toured classrooms and met pupils and teachers, praised the school as proof that children of different abilities can be educated together.
Western Mail (Cardiff), January 27, 1999.