Routledge Library Editions Special Educational Needs

This set of 62 volumes, originally published between 1951 and 1999, amalgamates a wide breadth of literature on Special Educational Needs, with a particular focus on inclusivity, class management and curriculum theory. This collection of books from some of the leading scholars in the field provides a comprehensive overview of the subject how it has evolved over time, and will be of particular interest to students of Education and those undertaking teaching qualifications.

Originally published in 1989. This book is designed as an introduction to the field of special education for all those students and professionals – teachers, social workers, psychologists, medical officers, nurses, speech therapists and others – who encounter children with special needs. The authors first discuss current legislation in its historical context and draw attention to the major issues and controversies. They go on to analyse a variety of learning difficulties. Physical and sensory disabilities, emotional and behavioural problems, may all give rise to special educational needs. The book then considers how children’s special needs may be met in terms of curriculum, resources and provisions. It concludes with some prognostications and a critical review of current practice.

Mini-set M: Inclusion and Special Education re-issues 8 volumes originally published between 1975 and 1986. They discuss topics such as the assessment of special educational needs, comparative special education, the sociology of special education, labelling theory, deviance and education, and disruptive behaviour in schools.

First published in 1994. The authors of this book aim to make recent developments in psychological research accessible to teachers of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties. The authors present their own and related research in the areas of assessment, curriculum, and teaching techniques, taking care to point out the range, relevance and limitations of findings in the context of pupils with PMLDs. As this is an area of acute training need, the book will meet a real need for a broad current perspective on good practice. The needs of pupils at primary and secondary levels are considered and case studies are used to exemplify some of the challenges and approaches discussed.

First published in 1985. This book examines in-depth the administrative, curricular, attitudinal and pastoral care changes that are needed if teachers in ordinary schools are to meet their pupils’ special needs successfully. Drawing on extensive research the author shows that the needs of a minority of ‘special’ pupils cannot sensibly be seen in insolation from those of the other pupils in the school. Schools that cater successfully for the majority of their pupils with special needs. Conversely, the curriculum and organisational problems in some schools create tensions which are reflected in the pupils’ poor behaviour and performance. These are taken as evidence that the pupils have special needs.

Mini-set M: Inclusion and Special Education re-issues 8 volumes originally published between 1975 and 1986. They discuss topics such as the assessment of special educational needs, comparative special education, the sociology of special education, labelling theory, deviance and education, and disruptive behaviour in schools.

First published in 1995. This book concerns aspects of decision-making by, or on behalf of, children who have special educational needs. This is an area of concern, given that little attention had previously been given to the views of children on matters relating to their education. The book examines various themes relating to ‘advocacy’, in relation to classroom practice, school organisation and professional development in all phases of education. Additionally, the role of parents and of support agencies is considered. Each theme is developed by an author with expertise in that field, and the emphasis of the book is upon the practical considerations of implementing advocacy programmes in schools.

At the time of its original publication this book was the first major survey of the nature of the difficulties that children with special educational needs experience in the classroom context of mainstream junior schools. The book is based on research involving interviews with heads and teachers, and on extensive observation of children in junior classrooms. The research is related to the report of the Warnock Committee and to problems of definition and assessment in the area of special education. The book describes the views which junior school teachers have of special educational needs and the numbers of children and types of difficulty they regard as falling into this category. It discusses the classroom behaviour and interactions of children with special needs, and some of the consequences of different teaching strategies. It also presents information on patterns of provision for special needs, assessment in the junior classroom and the teachers’ own views on integration.