Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs Book

Acknowledgements 9

Explanatory Terms 11

Introduction 14

Part 1 Looking at Specific Definitions of Special Educational Needs

1 The Definition of Special Educational Needs 16

2 Communication and Interaction 20

3 Cognition and Learning 25

4 Behaviour, Emotional and Social Development 35

5 Sensory and Physical Needs 37

6 Complex Needs 42

7 Medical Needs and School Trips 45

8 The Current Law on Special Educational Needs 59

Part 2 Understanding the Background

9 Understanding the Child's Needs and the Role of Assessment by a Psychologist 66

10 How to Draw Up a List of Schools 73

11 Getting the Right Documents 82

Part 3 Setting Up a Visit

12 How to Set Up a Visit 92

13 Looking at the Physical School Environment in General 100

14 Looking at the Classroom Environment 105

15 Making a Record of the School Visit 111

Part 4 Looking at Specific Provision/Intervention

16 Teaching for Specific Learning Difficulties 120

17 Intervention for Sensory Needs 128

18 Autistic Provision 142

19 Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, Play Therapy and Psychotherapy 147

20 Counselling and Mentoring 156

21 Speech and Language Therapy 161

22 Occupational Therapy 174

23 Physiotherapy 188

Part 5 Other Important Issues to Consider

24 Integration and Inclusion 200

25 Religious Beliefs, Co-Education, School Size, Small Classes and Transition 206

26 Equality and Discrimination 211

Part 6 Different School Models

27 Mainstream Schools 218

28 Special Units in Mainstream Schools 224

29 Special Schools 227

30 Dual Placements 232

31 Pupil Referral Units 236

32 Residential Schools 240

33 Home Education 246

34 Hospital Schools 254

35 StudioSchools™ and Virtual Schools 257

Part 7 Summary

36 Evaluating the Findings 262

Bibliography 270

Resources and Useful Organizations 273

Websites 276

Index 282