Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity (2nd ed)

For many readers the first edition of this book became the textbook on special educational needs (SEN).

It was written specifically with the requirements of student teachers, trainee educational psychologists, SENCO's and SEN specialist teachers in mind.

Whilst recognising the complex and difficult nature of many special educational needs, the authors place a firm emphasis on inclusion and suggest practical strategies enabling professionals to maximise inclusion at the same time as recognising and supporting diversity.

Reviewers commended the stimulating balance that it struck between theory, research and practice as well as its unique analysis of the implications for SEN of linguistic, cultural and ethnic diversity.

These valuable features are maintained in the new edition. The key new features of the second edition include: analyses of the probable impact on children with special educational needs of key recent legislation and guidance and of other recent national initiatives in education, including curricular initiatives (such as those for literacy and numeracy) and organisational and structural initiatives (such as the introduction of new types of school and the reorganisation of children's services); many new case studies and activities that reflect recent changes in the field, including developments in national and local provision and in ways of thinking about special educational needs and inclusion; and, reports of significant new research in this field and of new materials and methods for assessment and teaching with over 30 per cent of the bibliography referring to material published since the first edition.

This edition contains new chapters on: SEN inclusion and diversity - an integrated approach; Stakeholders in SEN and inclusion; Assessment for learning; Autism; Sensory needs (covering both visual and hearing impairment); and Physical needs. It includes fuller coverage too of some important subjects in which there have been major developments in the years since the first edition, including dyspraxia, the education of the children of travellers and asylum seekers; the role of genetic factors in development, and the contribution of neuroscience to our understanding of SEN.