This study summarises the findings based on two case study sensory gardens in the United Kingdom, in terms of the educational development and social interaction of children with special needs and the staff who care for them. The aim was to observe and record the users' behaviour when engaging with features in the sensory garden. The data…

This article summarises three case studies examining the implementation of inclusive practices, which evidence the exclusionary pressures acting in school settings that put the needs, rights and entitlements of vulnerable children and young people at risk. It examines how three very culturally different secondary schools in England interpreted…

Emerging teachers undergoing initial teacher education programmes and given the opportunity to engage in a teaching placement in special provisions settings consistently report that they find the experience "transformative." Over eight years, informal and often unprompted data emerged which "insisted" upon reporting and suggested that the special…

Students with dyslexia often experience low self-esteem and, linked with this, low academic achievement. Our research, commissioned by the Higher Education Academy, was carried out by academics in two universities, one in the south-west of England and one in the north-west, over 2009-2010. It set out to address "transitions and questions of…

The pilot research reported in this article is part of the Centre Research Study (CReSt) which evaluates the impact of the educational reform programme on schools, colleges and other centres in England. The article reports findings from one special school, based on interviews with teachers (including the headteacher), students and a parent. The…

This article discusses the relationship between autism and teaching a foreign language (TFL) and explores how specific teaching styles may strengthen learners' motivation. Autism is simply considered to be a social disorder of development. Autistic people are often seen as having difficulty in learning a language other than their first language.…

This article draws upon the findings from a unique research project that provided new insights into the relationship between parents and teachers working with children experiencing difficulties in school. The article introduces ten modes of parents and teachers "working together", each of which has implications for the provision for children…

This article explores notions of support and collaboration between teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) in two secondary schools in England. In particular it reviews how team members created opportunities and established collaborative practices aimed at including each other in the task of providing support for children who are described as…

This article considers the role of verbal and written instructions in influencing students' successful completion of a task. Two classes of children in a primary school were asked to complete a set of tasks from an instruction sheet. In addition, however, one of the classes was given a verbal instruction by the class teacher to read all of the…

Students with intellectual disabilities often experience school-related stress. As a result, they are confronted with many difficulties in their daily school life. The goal of this study was to assess situations of school life that students attending Greek mainstream settings are likely to experience as stressful. Twenty students with mild…

This article suggests that child poverty and unequal educational opportunity are inextricably linked. It is argued that even from an early age children from poorer backgrounds are disadvantaged in terms of their preparedness to thrive in the formal school environment. Educational achievement is strongly influenced by attitudes and much research…

In both Ireland and the UK, Traveller children reportedly suffer the lowest rates of educational attainment of any group. This study aimed to promote evidence-based practice in the teaching of reading to Traveller children and thereby to raise their levels of achievement. This involved teachers delivering an evidence-based intervention over a…

This study investigates the factors that affect the self-esteem of learners with dyslexia. It provides a brief overview of some of the key literature in this area and then describes a small-scale study conducted in two mainstream secondary schools in the north of England. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with secondary-aged…

This article explores the different ways in which inclusion is interpreted in the context of students who have personal care and physical needs. This varies according to professional and role orientations. The author gathers the views of practitioners in schools and colleges, as well as those working in local authority settings. The findings…

This article describes work undertaken in connection with an ongoing research project funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools. It illustrates the educational implications of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and its implications for the educational workforce in seeking to meet the needs of those children who are affected.