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Integration, Education and Rights [1]
Author(s) -
Lewis Ann
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
british educational research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1469-3518
pISSN - 0141-1926
DOI - 10.1080/0141192930190306
Subject(s) - curriculum , government (linguistics) , focus (optics) , sociology , political science , pedagogy , psychology , public administration , public relations , linguistics , philosophy , physics , optics
The integration into ordinary schools of children with special educational needs (SEN) has been seen as a fundamental right by some writers. This paper examines government statistics relating to the education of children with SEN and looks specifically at attempts to extrapolate measures of integration from these statistics. The limitations to measures of ‘integration’ which focus on end products (e.g. placement or statement decisions) are explored. The focus of the paper then moves to examine more broadly the rights of children with SEN and the rights of those children's parents. Parents' rights are explored under four subheadings: formal assessment, appeals, non‐statemented special provision, and participation in the National Curriculum. One of the strategies that may increase integration is the focus on parental rights concerning school preferences for their children. It is concluded that the exercise of these rights will be counter‐productive unless ordinary schools are willing and able to meet the educational needs of all children.