Helen Cooper had been badly bullied because of her uneven gait. She had spent most of the time at her previous school hiding in the toilets.
But Filsham Valley School in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, was determined to help reintegrate her into a mainstream classroom. The school let her spend time in its special support unit and made sure she got to know teachers and pupils before introducing her to lessons gradually. Today Helen, now 17, is an active member of the sixth form, having achieved three A stars in her GCSEs.
However, this type of support is not driven solely by altruism because mainstream schools in England and Wales have had a duty to provide for disabled pupils since September 2002.
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