ADHD

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Previous government legislation in the UK supported the medical model approach in regards to education of children with special educational needs (SEN). Children with SEN were seen as handicapped and placed in segregated educational provisions under the direction of medical professionals (Huge and Copper, 2007). However, with the introduction of the social model government legislations in regards to education began to change. Legislations and polices such as the Warnock Report (1978), The 1981, 1993 and 1996 Educational Acts and the 1997 Green Paper Excellence for all Children, all pushed for a more inclusive educational system. In the last 15 years further legislations have been put in place to strengthen the educational rights of children with SEN. The 2001 special educational needs and disability act (SENDA) along with the 2001 SEN code of practice was established to strengthen the right of children with SEN to be placed and educated in mainstream schools (Ramjhun, 2002, Spooner, 2002 and Waterfield and West, 2002). The code of practice extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and aimed to eliminate unfair discrimination against student with SEN. The main principle of the SENDA and the code was that all students with SEN had full accesses to educational provisions and being able to have the same opportunities as non- disabled individuals (Waterfield and West, 2002). Wright et al (2006) stated the SENDA was beneficial in encouraging educational provisions to be proactive in removing barriers that may affect the learning and participation of students with SEN. Hodkinson and Vickerman (2010) argued that although the SENDA prompted further attention on SEN inclusion in practice its key intentions were rather vague and lacke... ... middle of paper ... ...e centre for studies on inclusive education (CSIE) that is an independent centre committed to promoting and encouraging full inclusion of students with SEN, and campaigns for the closure of special schools, believing special schools creates a barrier to a more inclusive society (Hall, 2002 and CSIE, 2014). however, many argue that full inclusion may not always benefit a child with SEN, Farrell (2009) states that the view that inclusion should be the primary aim of a school is flawed. Schools aim should be to educated children not include them. In agreement with this point Warnock (2005) argued that inclusive education needs to be rethought as the current process of inclusion is not working. Warnock also stated there was still a need for special education to be provide to children with SEN who could not have their educational needs met in a mainstream environment.

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