supporting inclusion, challenging exclusion
CSIE's response to government's SEN strategy 2004
Two CSIE pamphlets set out the clear evidence against segregated schooling and reasons for rejecting it:
- The case against segregation into special schools - a look at the evidence
- Reasons against segregated schooling (available as a free download)
You can order both (and many other publications) from this site.
Government's plans for special schools flawed
The Government's latest plans for 'special needs' education will perpetuate prejudice and discrimination against disabled people, according to the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE), an independent education charity.
The national Centre says that plans to retain separate 'special' schools in perpetuity for some pupils works against the long-term interests of disabled people. The Government's plans are contained in its new strategy document Removing Barriers to Achievement: the government's strategy for SEN.
A spokesperson for the Centre said:
'Segregated schooling does not lead to inclusion. It perpetuates discrimination, devaluation, stigmatization, stereotyping, prejudice, and isolation. Disabled adults identify these conditions as the biggest barriers to respect, participation and a rewarding life in mainstream society.
'The Government has failed to grasp the nettle of segregation. It has supported the discriminatory practice of segregating young disabled children for far too long; now is the time to commit to ending segregated education for sound educational, social and human rights reasons.'
The Centre, which has been promoting inclusion of all pupils into mainstream schools for more than 20 years, wants the Government to set targets for the closure of all special schools and suggests the year 2020 as a totally achievable deadline. It believes a properly planned and phased closure programme would ensure that appropriate specialist provision and resources can be retained and transferred to a restructured mainstream to help develop genuine inclusive practice.
'This new strategy says in the same breath that the Government is backing inclusive education and the development of segregated special schools - they cannot have it both ways.'
'This mixed message from Government Ministers and the DfES is perpetuating discrimination and inequality. The new plan fails to admit there is a damaging stigma attached to special schooling.'
While the strategy has positive proposals to promote inclusion, CSIE fears these will not be taken up by many heads and teachers in ordinary schools who know they can still rely on special schools 'soaking up' the children they do not want in the mainstream; it is a missed opportunity to improve the lives of young disabled people.
To support its call for special schools to be phased out by 2020 the Centre has published two new pamphlets setting out the clear evidence against segregated schooling and reasons for rejecting it. CSIE says the issue was simple:
'Segregating a small group of children from their peers for their education because they are disabled or have learning difficulties is damaging to individuals and to society. There are now thousands of schools in this country now operating successful inclusive practices, regardless of need.'
Page last updated: Tuesday 22 August 2023