Understanding Children with Special Needs

Part 1 The changing concept of special education: the framework of legislation; central issues in special education. Part 2 Learning difficulties: early conceptualization and definitions; prevalence; reading and spelling difficulties; remedial provision; the changing concept of remedial education; the Warnock Report's concept of learning difficulties; learning difficulties and the 1981 Education Act; developments since the 1981 Act; parental involvement in learning. Part 3 Why do learning difficulties occur?: theories to explain learning difficulties; social and environmental factors; organic and within-child factors; the nature of "school knowledge". Part 4 Physical and sensory disorders and disabilities: organic disorders which primarily affect intellectual development; disorders which primarily affect the child's physical development and mobility; sensory disabilities; speech language and communication disorders. Part 5 Maladjustment, emotional and behavioural difficulties: early conceptualizations and definitions of maladjustment; the frequency of adjustment difficulties; the growth of provision; the concept of maladjustment in the Warnock Report and the 1981 Act; factors influencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. Part 6 Some behaviour problems of social concern: deviant behaviour and delinquency; school attendance problems; substance abuse; child sexual abuse. Part 7 Meeting special educational needs: meeting the needs of children with learning difficulties; behavioural approaches to teaching; meeting the needs of children with mobility problems; meeting the needs of children with speech, language and communication difficulties; meeting the needs of the hearing- and visually-impaired child and the needs of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Part 8 Meeting special educational needs - the wider context: educational settings; the statutory agencies; pre- and post-school provisions.