Pressured into sending child to mainstream school?

[vamkam]

David Cameron recently suggested that parents were being pressured to send their children to mainstream schools over special schools.
Do you agree with this Yes or No?

I am currently doing my dissertation and will use your responses in my findings, whilst I do not need you to reply with anything other than yes or no, your comments may be used without your user name within my study and I will take your partcipation as agreement to this.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you The profiterole thief.

Repost this on the SN board.

There has been a great reduction in the number of Special schools over the past 10-20 years but at the same time many parents want their children educated in mainstream so I think it is a two way thing. Some parents are unable to get a SEN place and others fight against it.

I chair a support group for parents with SN children in London. In my experience there are definitely far more parents who are pressured to send their child to mainstream when they want a special school place, than vice versa.

Additionally, it's often the case that even when it's agreed that mainstream isn't suitable, the particular special school chosen by the LEA isn't appropriate. Parents have to go to tribunal to secure a place at a special school out of borough, or a private special school.

The fact that so many state special schools have closed means that the few remaining only cater to a narrow range of needs. For some children the only schools which are suitable are special schools in the private sector.

I know it's off topic but I feel there is a place for schools that fall somewhere between the current model of special schools and mainstream