A report said that the proportion of United Kingdom pupils with special educational needs who were educated within mainstream schools was above the average of other developed countries.
Source: Education Policy Analysis 2003, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (+33 1 4524 8200)
Links: Report (pdf) | DfES press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A bulletin summarised the information available on special educational needs and related information about special schools in England. It also provided analyses of trends in special schools; schools; pupils and staff; as well as the incidence and placement of pupils with SEN across primary and secondary schools and further analysis of SEN statistics.
Source: Special Educational Needs in England January 2003, Statistical Bulletin 09-03, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
Researchers examined outcomes for pupils on return from special schools outside the area covered by a local education authority. They concluded that, unless there were cogent care reasons for removing a young person from their community, the national promotion of inclusion suggested that out-authority placements needed to demonstrate very clearly that a young person was making significantly better progress (according to a range of measures appropriate to the particular case) than they could make in a more local placement.
Source: Felicity Fletcher-Campbell and Sulochini Pather, Outcomes and Destinations of Pupils on Return from Out-authority Special Schools, LGA research report 47, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
The report described a project in which group activities and interaction were used to boost the self-esteem of young children with special educational needs. It was found to help the children to develop confidence and advocacy skills.
Source: Peter Burke and Sue Montgomery, Listen to Me, School of Nursing, Social Work and Applied Health Studies /University of Hull (01482 465965)
Links: Community Care article
Date: 2003-Oct
A schools inspectorate report said that schools were taking seriously their responsibility to adopt an inclusive approach to children with special educational needs, although pupils in primary schools were making better progress in learning than those in secondary schools. A second report highlighted examples of good practice in local education authorities that had satisfactory or better provision for pupils with SEN: the report noted that LEA support to schools varied greatly.
Source: Special Educational Needs in the Mainstream, HMI 511, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) | Special Educational Needs in the Mainstream: LEA policy and support services, HMI 556, Office for Standards in Education
Links: Report 511 (pdf) | Report 556 (pdf) | OFSTED press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A report examined special educational needs in young children aged 3-6 (up to the end of year 1 in primary school). Pre-school attendance, especially in high quality settings, was found to provide all young children with a better start to primary school, but particularly those at risk of SEN. There was a positive impact on children s cognitive development (in both language and non-verbal skills), which remained evident at the end of year 1 in both better reading and mathematical skills.
Source: Pam Sammons, Brenda Taggart, Rebecca Smees, Kathy Sylva, Edward Melhuish, Iram Siraj-latchford and Karen Elliot, The Early Years Transition & Special Educational Needs (EYTSEN) Project, Research Report 431, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jun
A new book offered a comprehensive analysis of funding arrangements for pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools. It examined the policy context for formula funding, and the design and accountability issues for the construction of a revised formula.
Source: Alan Marsh, Funding Inclusive Education: Economic realities, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Jun
A report examined the likely impact of a statutory mainstreaming presumption in Scotland for children with special educational needs (from August 2003). It was found that there would probably be a 9 per cent increase in SEN children educated in mainstream schools. Few local councils were able to provide evidence of either strategies to meet the requirements of mainstreaming, or 'best value' reviews of SEN.
Source: Moving to Mainstream: Inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Key points (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
The government began consultation on the future of special schools. It said that special schools should increasingly cater for the growing population of children with severe and complex special educational needs; and that they should be outward-looking centres of expertise and work more collaboratively with mainstream schools.
Source: The Report of the Special Schools Working Group, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Independent article
Date: 2003-Mar
The Scottish Executive published a strategy document, together with a draft Bill for consultation, aimed at modernising provision for pupils who need additional support for learning. It was proposed to move away from special educational needs terminology towards the concept of 'additional support needs' which would apply to all children who face difficulties in accessing education.
Source: Moving Forward! Additional Support for Learning, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive (0131 244 7139)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Draft Bill (pdf) | Draft Bill | Press release
Date: 2003-Jan
The High Court ruled that Essex County Council was wrong to impose a special education programme on a four-year-old girl without her parents' approval. The programme would have involved her being taught by her parents.
Source: BBC news report 30.1.03
Links: BBC report
Date: 2003-Jan
