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I am student at Leeds Metropolitan University studying on the PGCE Primary Education course (leading to QTS). As part of my course I am undertaking a small-scale study through which I am investigating special educational needs children and the national curriculum.

I am passionate about supporting the needs of all children in the classroom, I believe this passion comes from having a brother with special needs. I am particularly interested in how, if at all, the National Curriculum can support and benefit children with special educational needs (SEN). I will be looking at what kind of provision can be made for individuals with SEN to help enhance their time in school and enabling them to achieve their full potential. I hope to gain an insight into what lesson’s parents feel their children can benefit from most and in doing so I can learn how I can adapt the curriculum to teach in a way that SEN children will benefit and enjoy lessons within the classroom. In conducting this research I feel it will not only benefit the children but also help me to become a better teacher.

I would welcome any feedback from parents in relation to the following questions;

1. What were the reasons for choosing the school you did for your child/children?

2. Which lessons do you feel benefit your child/children the most at school?

3. Is there anything you feel would benefit your child/children’s education whilst they are in school? (e.g. particular lessons or activities)

If you are a teacher I would welcome any feedback from the following questions;

1. Do you think that in following the National Curriculum that SEN children benefit from it? In what way?

2. How could the National Curriculum be developed to ensure it meets the needs of SEN children?

3. How do you ensure a SEN child is meeting their full potential in school?

Thank you for your time

I am so with you Kathryn. Severe Special Needs and yet they are expected to speak French and understand who King Henry the VIII is. My son can neither read, write or talk...toilet training and getting dressed would be more useful! His class had 14 children and 4 adults....18 in a tiny room with wheelchairs etc is not a good ratio. They now have the modern idea of class targets.....everyone to achieve the same....how ridiculous is that? So we pulled our son out and are fighting for a school we think more suitable....surprise surprise it's independent and LEA aren't happy at funding it. At the proposed school he would get 1-2-1 attention, use VOCAs, computers to communicate. Physio and OT are implimented daily and the IEP works on their daily skills and the national curriculum is run alongside.....just to keep OFSTED happy! Good luck going into a school system that needs a complete revamp.

We choose the special needs school we did as it best met the needs of our son. He was in a main stream school until he was 7 but wasn't coping. The special needs school we choose had a nice feeling when you went into it and the head and staff were all very approachable. We found that you end up having to make trade offs when looking at schools, none met all the needs of our son, but we felt that the one we choose was the best for him. We would of liked one with more music. There is no point trying to teach special needs children subjects that are never going to be of any use to them, they find it difficult to learn as it is. The best things to teach them are LIFE SKILLS, things that they need to know.