The debate about special needs provision has increased dramatically over the last 15 years, however, despite the widespread concern over both learning and behavioural difficulties, there have been few attempts to analyse in detail the process of assessment by which children are being identified as having special educational needs. Drawing upon research carried out by the authors, this book fills that gap by examining the process in detail. It considers the assessment process itself and how it affects and is affected by other areas of school policy - in some cases causing tension and conflict such as parental participation, the use and allocation of resources and multi-professional decision-making. A feature of the book is its analysis of the impact of the National Curriculum and the local management of schools (LMS) provision for special needs.

First published in 1992. Special educational needs are being defined in new ways. Changing laws and perspectives in many countries present new challenges to practitioners. The fundamental shift underlying all these changes is the idea that handicap is not an absolute phenomenon, that special educational needs are relative to a person’s environment. Once this is accepted, it is inevitable that there will be a radical re-examination of how such needs are identified and how they are assessed. This book draws together a range of contributions from leading figures in special education worldwide, to emphasise assessment in the service of prevention, of teaching, and of mainstreaming and integration. It is not enough to understand children’s individual strengths and weaknesses. The primary objective of assessment is to guide intervention, and for that purpose it must have a broader focus and not concentrate exclusively on the target individuals who appear to have disabilities or learning difficulties: the learning environment is equally important as a focus for assessment. The book is divided into three sections that explore three broad themes: empowering children and parents during the assessment process; designing assessment so that it supports the integration and mainstreaming of children rather than their segregation; and making improvements through specific approaches to assessment.

Demonstrates how the fields of special education and inclusive education have evolved philosophically and technically over the past 30 years.

'This book is timely. I hope that it will be very widely read' - Mary Warnock With a Foreword from Baroness Mary Warnock, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the field of special educational needs (SEN). It contains chapters written by a range of experts on different aspects of SEN, and is full of practical suggestions for how to achieve effective, inclusive practice. Various research perspectives are considered, the value of labels is examined and the need to recognize the overlapping characteristics between different syndromes is highlighted. Chapters focus on translating theory into classroom practice, and include case studies covering the Birth to 19 age range. There is coverage of: SEN and the state of research SEN and legal issues Parents' perspectives Speech and language difficulties Dyspraxia and occupational therapy Dyslexia and dyscalculia Auditory Processing Disorder Behavioural Optometry Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Asperger's Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Tourette's Syndrome. Ideal for those undertaking teacher education courses, as well as experienced teachers, therapists and policy makers, this book is a guide to understanding and supporting learners with additional needs.

There is a major new legislation being implemented in Sept 94 - this book will be the essential tool to help SEN co-ordinators interpret the new rules Spiral bound, photocopiable materials (Proformas, assessment materials etc)

By examining related disciplines, Farrell provides a road map for special education and considers how special education can be better understood.

Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity is the definitive handbook for student teachers, newly qualified teachers, trainee educational psychologists, SENCO's and SEN Specialist Teachers.

Special Educational Needs and Disability provides a clear, coherent overview of the historical development of the field of special educational, or additional learning or support needs and disability, and discusses important past and current social and political contexts in which this took place, as well as changes in the law across time. It offers broad coverage of a range of needs and disabilities, and how to effectively identify and support those young people who experience such needs. This revised fourth edition covers recent legislative changes across the UK, an expanded discussion of key areas such as social, emotional, and mental health, a new chapter on literacy difficulties, and further fair, balanced, and open discussion of up-to-date evidence that indicates how young people who experience barriers to their learning are affected by factors associated with such marketisation, for example competition between schools and the academies programme. Special Educational Needs and Disability serves as essential reading for trainee and practising teachers, members of governing boards in schools and colleges, policymakers, and all those working directly with learners and their families.

Amidst all of the bureaucracy and policy concerning special educational needs (SEN), it is easy to lose sight of the role of standards in the education of pupils with SEN. This book places the role of standards at the centre of the stage, showing:- what is meant by standards- how they are measured- how they can be improved- what pitfalls need to be avoidedTopics include: legisaltion; identification of SEN; target settting; benchmarking; "value added"; inclusive education; and resources. The book focuses on UK education systmes but includes frequent and sustained comparison with USA. There are also references to Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.