Special needs teachers working with children in mainstream schools in Liverpool have threatened to strike over plans to cut jobs. They fear mainstream schools will be unable to meet their statutory obligations if the already stretched service is reduced further. ‘The only way some of these children can stay in mainstream education is with this sort of help’, said NUT spokeswoman Ruth Knox. ‘Removing that assistance could force them back into special schools and undo all the progressive moves that have been made to integrate them’.
Liverpool Daily Post, May 1, 1996.

Fourteen-year-old Holly Williams is the author of ‘Animal High’, a story about a school for disabled and non disabled animals. Holly, who writes from personal experience, hopes the book will educated able-bodied children about disability. Holly, a firm believer in integration, says: ‘If you are going to change attitudes, you should start with children’.
Disability Now, May 1, 1996.

Bexley Council says that nine-year-old Katie Wilkinson, who has dyslexia, can be taught adequately by her own school without additional help. However, her mother says the family have had to bring in a private teacher to help Katie, who cannot read and write, but feel the service should be provided by the education authority. ‘Bexley keeps saying her overall attainments are within the average bands for her age. They just refused to recognise she needs more expert help even though she is bright’.
New Shopper Bexleyheath and Welling, May 1, 1996.

A father whose protest over his son’s education was halted by police has taken to the streets again. Robert Waine wants his son Nathan, who has learning difficulties, to mix with youngsters without disabilities. Six months ago he was ordered by police from the top of a 12 feet high poster stand in Deansgate Manchester and brought down by the fire brigade. Now he is back in Deansgate with placards – but this time at ground level. Mr. Waine says his son has made no progress at special schools and needs to continue his education at a mainstream school or college. ‘I have gone along with the education authority’s advice for over five years and I know to our cost that it has had a detrimental effect on Nathan – seeing all his friends disappear and his self esteem ebb away and his communications skills undeveloped’.
Manchester Evening News, May 7, 1996.

The mother of nine-year-old Shane Powell who has been expelled for kicking his headteacher said the trouble started when classmates bullied him because of his disabilities. The headmaster said he regretted having to expel Shane but had no alternative. It was the first time he had been hit in 23 years at school. Wiltshire County Council is trying to find another school for Shane and meanwhile has offered home tuition.
Western Daily Press, Bristol, May 13, 1996.

Disabled toddlers in parts of North Yorkshire face a better chance of getting into mainstream education thanks to a revolutionary new scheme. Education chiefs have announced that nearly GBP200,000 has been found to recruit and train an army of volunteer teachers to be part of a home visiting service for pre-school children with learning difficulties. Toddlers as young as two will be taught basic skills in their homes through a series of specialised ‘games’.The scheme is called Portage after the town in the United States where it was developed.
Yorkshire Evening Press, York, May 17, 1996.

Parents are being attracted to Cornwall because of its policy of including disabled children in mainstream schools, according to the Liberal Democrat Chairman of the County Council’s Education Committee, Val Cox. ‘We are doing it not just because parents like it, but because it is good for all children. A youngster who has got some sort of handicap, whether it is physical or mental, has actually got to live in the real world so to be able to educate them alongside their peers for most parts of the curriculum gets them used to living in society. It is also beneficial for more able children to be aware of disability’.
Western Morning News, May 18, 1996.

Jersey Education Committee is to re-examine its special needs policy following a seminar organised by the Jersey Group of the Down’s Syndrome Association. The two-day seminar was told about the successful integration work taking place in Portsmouth with the help of research by the Sarah Duffen Centre.
Jersey Evening Post, May 18, 1996.

Judith Carr becomes the first nursery nurse in the country to be awarded the Royal National Institute for the Blind’s certificate in Braille. Judith, who works with youngsters with visual impairments in Belmont Infant School, near Durham, decided to upgrade her skills by taking a two-year correspondence course. Judith said: ‘It has been very difficult and has really taken a lot of doing. But it’s worth it to help support the children in the classroom – that is where you feel you have really got something out of it’.
Darlington Northern Echo May 22, 1996.

Headteachers leaders yesterday urged their members to make an example of violent parents by expelling their children. The call came despite evidence of already record numbers of expulsions from primary schools – up four-fold since the beginning of the decade.Violent attacks by parent had also rocketed, to the point where figures showed they were now twice as likely as an attack by a pupil. Leader David Hart urged members confronted by violent parents to test the limits of the the law – and the decisions of independent appeal panels, – by expelling their children.
Yorkshire Post, Leeds, May 29, 1996.

A poor report from inspectors looks set to seal the fate of the only school in Waltham Forest that takes the children other schools cannot handle. Councillors will be asked to agree the closure of Lea Green School, by September next year. They are being advised to replace it with other types of units for the children, all of whom have severe social and emotional or behavioural problems. A team from the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) visited Lea Green in February and concluded that it was ‘failing’. They found that two in five pupils were underachieving, levels of attendance and punctuality were poor, overall management unsatisfactory and the school was not giving value for money.
Walthamstow Guardian, May 30, 1996.