As regional development officer in the Southwest for the Down's Syndrome Association, Ralfs is used to challenging attitudes and knows only too well the barriers families can face when trying to get a child into their local school.
Last week, children's minister Margaret Hodge admitted she was shocked by some local education authorities' policies on children with special educational needs, particularly that some are designating certain mainstream schools as not appropriate for children with moderate learning difficulties (Children Now, 22-28 September).
"It's something I and all my colleagues come up against," admits Ralfs. "Sometimes parents are actively encouraged to look at one school rather than another."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
