Education professionals (n = 41) in special schools were interviewed about supporting their autistic pupils transitioning to adulthood following the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014. Our participants explained how they lacked the time to fully implement knowledge gained from training, leading to growing reliance on experiential expertise. While our participants reported employing

The purpose of this study was to examine how paraprofessionals and other service providers participate in co‐teaching with a certified special education pre‐Kindergarten teacher during dual language (DL) instruction. The study took place in two DL special education preschool classrooms located in an urban public school district in the southwestern US. The district enlisted paraprofessionals as lead

This study explored the factors that facilitate and complicate the higher education process for students with visual impairments (VI). The participants were six university students with VI and eight academics/faculty members who instruct these students together with other students. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews and were analysed using content analysis methods. The students

This study explores barriers to and strategies for parental involvement (PI) in the education of children with disabilities, using a qualitative case study design. Using the purposive sampling technique, five parents and five teachers were selected for interviews. Data obtained through semi-structured interviews have been analysed thematically. The findings demonstrated that PI was hindered by various

This research focuses on the impact of the context of Covid-19 on the role of the SENCo in English schools. The SENCo's role is a contested field; however, the current Special Educational Needs Code of Practice identifies 11 key areas of SENCos' work. A widely distributed survey was used to access the voice of SENCos across the country, and received 26 responses. Data were analysed using a realistic

Co‐teaching has become a well‐known way of working among Finnish teachers in recent years. Teachers’ collaboration is becoming increasingly important in light of the rising number of diverse students in regular classes. In an ideal co‐teaching context, teachers collaborate as equals, recognise and respect each other’s skills and competencies, and strengthen and support each other. In this study, we

In Saudi Arabia, it is generally perceived that private special education institutes (SEIs) provide a higher quality education than their public counterparts. Parents tend to trust and invest in private rather than public institutes. This is principally attributed to the greater financial capacity of private special institutes, which ensures services can be provided more effectively. Investigating

This article considers the role of the SENCo during Covid-19 pandemic conditions of school lockdown with partial reopening for children classified as ‘vulnerable’. It is argued that the existing pressures and tensions already experienced by SENCos – for example, related to time, workload, status, and their prescribed managerial and strategic role – have been highlighted by pandemic conditions. Pressures

Despite progression in policy towards greater inclusion over the last four decades, teacher insecurities regarding a lack of expertise in special educational needs and disability (SEND) remain. This qualitative case study research investigated the influence of the inclusion of visually impaired pupils on teachers’ conceptualisations of inclusion and SEND. Baseline and end-of-study surveys were undertaken

Mathematics is one of the core school subjects in the UK and an emphasis is placed on developing pupils’ mathematical competencies throughout all key stages. Despite that, the attainment of students with disabilities in mathematics remains low. The current study explored ways in which the Teaching Early Numeracy to children with Developmental Disabilities (TEN‐DD) programme could be implemented by

Differentiation of speech is predictable from abilities to discriminate the speed at which a sound reaches its optimum amplitude (rise time). This study investigated whether rise time identification of an affricate–fricative continuum would be impacted upon by dyslexia. Children between 10 and 14 years old identified sounds along a continuum of fricative to affricate sounds (cha–sha continuum), using

Access arrangements (AAs) in GCSE and GCE examinations are the reasonable adjustments made for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) under the Equality Act 2010. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) sets out evidence requirements for allowing AAs on behalf of awarding bodies, although there is a lack of research into the efficacy of AAs in enabling students with SEND

A recent discussion on the Forum dealt with the way in which the Covid‐19 pandemic was impacting on SENCos' roles and functions in the pre‐school phase. At the statutory level, these roles and functions are set out in the relevant section of the 2015 version of the Code of Practice. The overall aim of early provision is to prepare children to achieve a sound foundation in learning and behaviour, from

Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) took part in an online survey that explored their experiences of home‐schooling during the coronavirus pandemic. Two hundred and thirty‐eight parents from the UK responded to 49 questions about the resources and support they had received, their management and feelings surrounding home‐schooling. Chi‐square analyses were used

Family and teacher partnerships have an important role to play in the education of learners with disabilities. The South African Schools Act of 1996 has made provision for families to play a pivotal role in the school governing body, whether their child has a disability or not. National and international research shows that strong family–teacher partnerships improve children's academic performance

Interventions can be designed to support the interactions of children with visual impairments with their learning environments. However, there is a need to develop systematic and theory‐based interventions for supporting children with visual impairments and additional disabilities in their learning environments. This exploratory qualitative study aims to develop a logic model for parents/guardians

We all ‘play’ music! Play experiences for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) are often compromised, lost in complex care routines, increasingly stretched timetables and a lack of suitable play interventions. This study investigates combining music with play, using a set of guidelines and principles developed by the researcher and staff participants: Musical Play. It evaluates

Over recent months there has been much discussion on the Forum of Government and other announcements about the arrangements for carrying out special needs-related guidance during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, it has been important for SENCos to be informed about the relaxation of statutory procedures. In the previous column, a distinction was drawn between these attempts to ‘patch up’ existing

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme has been in existence in Ireland, in various different iterations, since 1979. This article presents a critical policy analysis of two iterations of the scheme, operational between 1998 and 2014, using a hybrid analytical framework. It highlights the contextual factors influencing those iterations, presents an interdiscursive analysis of the key policy texts

Inclusive education has become a primary educational goal in many countries that aim to end the exclusion of students with different needs. However, we still know little about the perspectives of teachers regarding the exclusion of students with different needs. Given that background, the present study used semi‐structured clinical interviews to investigate Turkish pre‐service (N = 31, mean age = 20

This article draws on the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) to examine parent ratings of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and prosocial behaviour in pre- and mid-adolescents. A series of mixed-design ANOVAs yielded interesting results. Parent ratings of emotional difficulties in girls increased as they moved from pre- to mid-adolescence whereas for boys the reverse was found. Peer problems

In late March of the current year, the Government decided to close all schools as part of its attempt to control the rate of infection in the coronavirus pandemic. The only children and young people that schools were permitted to serve would be those whose parents were ‘key workers’, and those regarded as ‘vulnerable’ for whom the local authority had made education, health and social care plans (EHCPs)

The purpose of this study is to present a review of instruments developed to measure perceptions of special educators regarding their competencies and to provide a synthesis of research studies using these measurement instruments. A total of 29 studies were included in this review, and 20 instruments were used across the studies. The results were as follows. First, the majority of the instruments in

This article draws together my thinking in relation to special educational needs and inclusion that have dominated my practice. The article, through the concept of embodiment, revisits, reviews and reframes the key issues of the construction of special educational needs, inclusion and the ideology that binds them together. Through this exploration, I argue we often seem to move forward with policy

This article presents the findings of a study that asked teachers to narrate their interactions with learners from the perspective of the curriculum that the school adopted. Thirteen female teachers, employed at eight special secondary schools for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties in England, participated in the research. They narrated their experiences, which were consequently

Educational transitions are associated with significant changes. If students cannot overcome these challenges, their well-being and motivation may be impaired. Students with clinically relevant emotional or behavioural disorders (EBDs) are at risk for negative transitional experiences. We conducted a systematic review summarising transitional outcomes of students with EBDs. After an electronic search

This article reports the development and evaluation of a toolkit-based approach to eliciting children's experiences of educational support, where the children in question experience speech and communication needs. The ?Your Voice Your Choice? approach was evaluated using a cross-case analysis methodology, which represents a novel approach to critical examination of the effectiveness of such resources

Wales is undergoing a major programme of educational reform, including the development of a new curriculum and transformation of the system for supporting learners with additional learning needs (ALN). This article reports on a research project investigating how these two elements are being brought together, drawing on interviews with policy leads and school-based practitioners. Findings indicate that

Difficulties with social communication may present challenges in gathering data from individuals with autism in research. To encourage individuals with autism to participate directly in research, methods that allow for autistic symptomology should be considered. An online forum was developed to enable adolescents with autism to share their social experiences. Ten female adolescents with autism, aged

This article offers a critical reflection on the function of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in pathways to employment for disabled young people. We consider ?the education plan? as an artefact of special educational needs systems. We problematise the often taken-for-granted assumption that such plans are always and only a ?good? thing in the lives of disabled young people seeking pathways

There are few opportunities for young disabled dancers to develop their talents, and even fewer studies investigating their experiences of such opportunities. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives and outcomes of an inclusive talent development programme, and how these were facilitated. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with one teacher, four young dancers and four parents

The purpose of this study was to compare 12 commonly-used nonoverlap methods with each other and with the results of visual analysis. Data were obtained from 25 studies focused on embedded instruction and schema-based instruction and included a total of 101 graphs. Treatment effect estimates using 12 nonoverlap methods were calculated for each graph by hand or using an online calculator. Five experts

The popularity of formative assessment has increased since the publication of work by Black and Wiliam in 1998. Even though it is a useful teaching tool, in most cases it has only been possible to use it for students with high levels of cognitive and communicative ability. The aim of this article is to propose a modified, personalisable model of formative assessment for non-verbal students with autism

This study focuses on the experience of 20 Spanish faculty members who teach students with disabilities. We conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews, and analysed the data using an inductive system of categories and codes. The results of this work describe the difficulties that faculty members encountered when including students with disabilities, and how they attended, through reasonable

A key metaphor used to describe the complexity of what teachers do is that of professional knowledge landscapes. This conveys the idea that effective practice should be explored in relation to how teachers perceive pupils, but also to how teachers see themselves and questions of professional identity. The research reported here was part of a larger study into inclusive pedagogy for autistic pupils

The content and direction of policy can be impacted upon by broader political and economic influences that are of central concern to the government in office. With regard to education, the concepts of inclusion and SEND are at the forefront of professional pedagogy and provision. These concepts, although well-established educational practices, may be impacted by these influences. This article has two

In 1977, Italy adopted a policy to fully include students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms. This study surveyed the attitudes of Italian teachers towards inclusive education 40 years after this reform. The data were collected from 153 basic school teachers using the Teachers' Attitudes towards Inclusion Scale (TAIS). The results indicate that the Italian teachers had a high level of commitment

All schools in England are required to have a SENCo. Although the DfE collects data relating to the demographics of this large population of teachers, this has not until now been analysed or published, meaning that much research relating to SENCos has had to proceed on the basis of estimates. A Freedom of Information request was made to the DfE, from which actual numbers could be established, with

Inclusive education has been touted as a strategy for providing educational opportunity in India, but little is known about whether and how Indian educators provide such opportunities. This study focused on Indian educators? perceptions of inclusive practices in their own schools. A total of 160 teachers and 15 headteachers from randomly selected secondary schools in the Indian state of West Bengal

We predicted that Arabic-speaking children with specific learning disabilities in reading (dyslexia) and spelling (in writing) benefit from a visuomotor-based intervention programme for the development of letter knowledge and the improvement of word and pseudo-word decoding as well as spelling (dictation). It was predicted that the mediation of visuomotor training should be effective since the characteristics

Approximately 30% of school-aged individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are nonverbal (that is, they have little or no spontaneous spoken language). Most reading tests require verbalisation, which may under-estimate reading ability in this group. To determine decoding abilities of nonverbal children with ASD (with an age range of 72 to 229 months), a novel digital form of reading assessment

Given the need to provide culturally competent children's services which support each child's right to full educational participation, the current systematic literature review aims to provide an up-to-date, international review of empirical studies that investigate the experience of minority ethnic heritage parents who have a child with special educational needs and disability (SEND). Studies were

In England, legislation introduced in 2014 to reform support for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) from birth to 25 years of age has been described as the biggest change in SEND for 30 years. Support now focuses on improved outcomes for young people with SEND, and aims to be more aspirational and person-centred, with the child and family ?at the heart of

The purpose of this study was to shed light on how work-related teacher support in the form of special educational consultation can promote the professional development of teachers working in rural ...

This article has three aims: to continue the process of giving credence to reflective teaching, which is integral to effective teaching and learning; to make explicit the connections between reflective teaching and inclusive teaching; and to identify key tasks for teachers in the inclusive classroom. Relevant articles were selected for inclusion in this review by searching online databases for key

This article explores the perspectives of educational psychologists across England with regard to their professional involvement, role and contribution to special schools for children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). An online survey was distributed to all educational psychology services in England and to private educational psychology practices. Data collected

Interventions based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) have been shown to improve outcomes for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but there is very little research into outcomes for older pupils. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an ABA intervention for pupils with ASD and additional learning difficulties in a UK special needs school. The aim of the intervention was to reduce

This article presents the findings, from a systematic review of international literature, of the existing research into the transition to secondary school of children with additional support needs, which happens for most children at around 11–12 years of age in Scotland. It brings an original contribution to the existing literature through its focus on the holistic transition experience of this group

Children with special educational needs often feel lonely in classrooms, are less accepted by their classmates and have fewer friendships. Their classmates' positive attitudes towards them are important for their social participation in inclusive classrooms. According to the theory of social referencing, children's attitudes towards peers with special educational needs are influenced by the role model

Developing an understanding of fractions is critical, as it is the first connection of whole-number properties to rational numbers within a single framework. The unique properties of fractions necessitate solution processes that are distinctive and often more complicated than whole-number processes, resulting in many students struggling with fractions. The purpose of the current study is to investigate

Parents'/carers' experiences of their children's dyslexia were explored in a mainstream secondary school in England. Interviews were undertaken with the parents/carers of young people at Hilltop View School, a secondary school in south‐west England. Bourdieusian concepts of field, habitus and practice were powerful in underpinning analysis using Jenkins's (2008) 'levels of interaction' when exploring

There is little research exploring educational practitioners' experiences of working with children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study aimed to understand educational practitioners' beliefs concerning the home lives of children with ADHD, and how they perceive that home lives affect children's behaviour in school. Forty‐two practitioners from primary, secondary and

The introduction of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms were hailed in 2014, by the then Government, as the most significant change to SEND policy for thirty years. Despite introduced changes, the 2015 Code continued to place responsibility for the co-ordination of provision for children with SEN within the remit of the SENCo. This article forms part of a wider study which

Encouraging partnerships between parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and educational practitioners is a key theme in educational policy in England. However, there are unanswered questions regarding whether parents and teachers are mutually responsible for developing and maintaining these partnerships, as well as a paucity of literature eliciting the views of educational

Education is effective in improving outcomes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While peer mentoring has demonstrated preliminary promise in supporting university students with ASD, the effective mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to explore the required contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of peer mentoring for university students with ASD. Semi‐structured interviews based on a Realist

Children bring joy, new experiences and challenges into the lives of their families, and the focus of this article is on the often unrecognised emotional challenges and stigma experienced by parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This study involved a random sample group of 240 parents using a service in the Hull and East Riding areas of the UK. These parents

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1.4% of children in the US. People with ASD have difficulty with social cues, eye contact, communication and engagement with others. The authors reviewed literature from 2010–2018 to fill in the gaps left by previous meta‐analyses and more specifically to examine the fidelity of implementation and the effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System

This study explored parental experiences and factors impacting on the successful transitioning of young people with Down syndrome from primary to mainstream secondary school settings in Ireland. This qualitative study used semi‐structured interviews to examine the perspectives of parents (N = 5) and secondary school teachers (N = 3) regarding this transition process. Interviews were analysed via thematic

Responding to children's expressed needs and preferences can improve their self‐esteem and motivation for learning. However, some groups of children and young people may find it more difficult to express their needs and preferences. This article reviews the research evidence on methods used to gather the views of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who may have particular difficulties

While the corpus of knowledge for teaching assistants (TAs) grows, less emphasis has been placed on specialised TAs, particularly those who adopt the 'nurture approach' when working with children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH). To explore this a case study was made of TAs and teachers at a special, nurturing primary school for children with SEMH. TAs were canvassed for