The British "Index for Inclusion" was selected to be used in three primary schools in the Western Cape Province in South Africa in order to develop a South African model to assist in the development of inclusive schools. The "Index for Inclusion" process entails progression through a series of five developmental phases and this paper, written by…

Helen May recently completed her doctoral studies at the University of Leeds. Her EdD thesis, written with the benefit of extensive experience of practice, focused on the engagement of children with learning difficulties in interactions in primary classrooms. In this article, Helen May draws on her familiarity with the literature to explore the…

This study evaluated how 30 British primary school classes implemented inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in the curriculum's literacy hour. It examined resources, teaching techniques, timetabling, personnel, classroom organization, location, and training. Findings indicated most SEN students were included in literacy…

This paper describes the use of drama with severely socially challenged children, especially children with autistic spectrum disorders. This approach stresses the importance of early make-believe and the use of drama to help children explore social narratives from the inside and thus improve social competence. (Contains references.) (DB)

A study compared United Kingdom classrooms containing nurture groups and typical classrooms (n=8). Teachers' verbal and nonverbal communications in the nurture group were much more positive and more likely to enhance the self-esteem of pupils (ages 5-7). Communication of typical classroom teachers were less likely to foster positive self-esteem.…

This article suggests that the receptive language abilities of children with AIDS and HIV infection might be less affected than their expressive and non-verbal skills. It proposes an instructional delivery framework for children with HIV/AIDS that focuses on reading, arithmetic/mathematics, handwriting instruction, and the use of computers.…

A project provided weekly home visits to support two children at risk of struggling with literacy during their first year at school. Results found the two families in the project responded positively to the home visits and maintained their engagement, and that the intervention was effective. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article summarizes concerns expressed at the SENCo-Forum about the stress that the Key Stage 1 Standard Assessment Tasks procedures place on children with special needs. Concerns include effects on student confidence, forcing teachers into roles that run counter to their educational ethos, and the time given to test preparation. (CR)

This article describes the implementation of the ENABLE-Plus program, a small group literacy intervention, at two primary schools in England. It covers the program's rationale, core strategies, content (group and individual teaching), tutor training, and reading materials. Evaluation found that 29 of 43 students made accelerated progress in…

This article describes a "Quiet Room" project for students with social, emotional, and behavioral problems at a British primary school. The Quiet Room was designed to provide a nurturing environment away from the classroom in which a child's emotional needs can be explored on a one-to-one basis. Benefits for children, parents, and teachers are…

British teacher ratings of self-esteem were measured for three groups of children: 23 children with dyslexia attending mainstream schools, 34 children with dyslexia attending units for pupils with specific learning difficulties (SpLd), and 26 typical children. Findings indicate the children attending the SpLd units generally had the lowest…

This article summarizes viewpoints expressed at a British special education conference on whether it matters if children acquire a standard pencil grip. Some participants felt children should be encouraged to use the standard tripod grip, while others believed children should be allowed to choose their own style of grip. (CR)

This article discusses the nature of the therapeutic intervention provided by "A Quiet Place" project and outlines its aims, objectives, philosophy, and intervention protocol. A study involving 172 children with emotional and behavioral difficulties in seven schools found the program had a significant effect on their short-term behavior. (Contains…

A four-year investigation of 200 British children with language impairments found that they performed all of the British National Curriculum's Key Stage 2 assessments poorly. After full-time placement in language units at 7, 171 of the children were found to continue education in a variety of placements with provision for special education needs…

A study compared scores on the Developmental Diagnostic Profile for 68 children with emotional/behavioral difficulties on entry to a nurture group, on exit, and after two years of mainstreaming. Emotional/behavioral difficulties were significantly reduced upon exit. Current data reveal that in 16 of 20 sub-strands, improvement has been primarily…