Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) has been successful in securing funding for a project called Count Us In, and the team is already busy working with schools in Leicester. The project has been developed by LCIL, an organisation led by disabled people in partnership with Parents for Inclusion. The aim of Count Us In is to empower parents of children with additional needs to support their child in the school of their choice. The project has been funded by Leicester City Council’s education department and promotes the value of inclusive education, responding to the needs of families who share this vision. The team will be holding inclusion group meetings in a number of schools, offering support, advice and training for parents.
Leicester Mercury, December 2, 2004.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, in their campaign to save Alderman Knight School. Children from the school held their banners high as they walked alongside parents, grandparents, teachers, governors and politicians. Their message was clear — keep Alderman Knight a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. The 500 campaigners were keen to show their disapproval of the county council’s decision to integrate students from the school into mainstream education. The procession brought traffic to a standstill, but motorists remained good tempered with many showing their support for the protest. Hundreds more watched from the streets waving and cheering them on.
Gloucestershire Echo, December 6, 2004.

The National Autistic Society is opposing a new disability rights campaign to close all special schools by 2020 and bring disabled pupils into mainstream schooling. But Scope, which — like the National Autistic Society — runs special schools for local authorities, is backing the 2020 campaign. It is holding a meeting this week with representatives from the 2020 campaign to discuss alternatives to special education and how special needs pupils — whether they are disabled or have behaviour problems – could be integrated into mainstream schools. Scope chief executive, Tony Manwaring, said: ‘Scope is fully committed in principle to the aims of the 2020 campaign, which aims to close all special schools and colleges in the UK. It is essential now we think through how the commitment can be managed in practice.’ The NAS argues that some children with autism are better off in a specialist setting, even though many could be supported to play a full role in mainstream schools.
Third Sector, December 15, 2004.

The future looks bright for special needs schools in Brentwood and Wickford after years of uncertainty over their role in the coming years. The Government shift in the 1990s towards inclusive education for all pupils and the recent proposal to develop New Model Special Schools had sparked concerns about what the county council planned for its existing special schools. However, following the hard work of the county’s special needs teachers, Essex County Council has agreed a report which puts Brentwood’s Endeavour School and Wickford’s Castledon School at the centre of special needs education in Essex. The two schools together with three others across the county are set to become centres of Community Learning in Partnership which will provide support to the thousands of special needs pupils in Essex whether they are in mainstream education or not.
Brentwood Gazette and Mid Essex Recorder, December 15, 2004.

Mark Vaughan, founder and co-director of the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education is one of a swathe of educationalists contained in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours Day list. Mark Vaughan was awarded an OBE for services to inclusion in education.
Guardian Unlimited (web), December 31, 2004.