CSIE has submitted its evidence to Parliament’s Education and Skills Select Committee’s Inquiry into Special Educational Needs. The evidence covers:

inclusive education as a pressing human rights concern

statistical evidence of variations between LEAs in effecting inclusive education and of poor overall progress towards inclusion

positive developments in inclusive education

the damage caused by segregating pupils into ‘special’ schools

children and young people’s views supporting inclusive education

problems with the concept and definition of ‘special educational needs’

While the Centre welcomes the important moves in the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill towards basic rights for disabled people which will enhance their life opportunities, it regrets that the discrimination inherent in separate special schooling for disabled pupils and perpetuated by them is not covered by the draft bill.