Development of Provision

Historical Perspectives

The Changing Status of Individuals who are Blind

• Separation: annihilation or veneration

• Ward status: care, paternalism

• Self-emancipation

• Integration

• Inclusion

Education

• 1784 first school for the blind opened in Paris by Valentine Hauy

• based on current curriculum in French schools - with an emphasis on the industrial arts of the time: chair caning, basketry, book-binding

England

• 1791 The School of Instruction for the indigent blind - Henry Dannett

• It was designed ‘to render the blind useful to their country by “removing habits of idleness” by 1800 renamed ‘School of Industry for the Blind’ those incapable of labour were discharged from the school.

The Workhouse Approach

• By the end of the 18 century three more institutions had opened.

• Institutions provided: education-training for industrial occupations, employment for some adults, shelter for the aged.

Control: For the Poor

• Indigent Blind Visiting Society: disqualified from help those who indulged in what was regarded as ‘habitual vice’ or inter-married without consent

Education for the Blind - Especially the Opulent

Classes• 1866 Worcester College Opened

• to ensure blind children of opulent parents might obtain an education suitable to their station in life (Thomas, 1957)

State Involvement

• 1885 Royal Commission on the Blind, Deaf and Dumb which reported:

• The blind deaf and dumb, and the educable class of imbeciles form a distinct group, which, left uneducated, become a weighty burden to themselves but a weighty burden to the State...

State Involvement

• 1892 education became compulsory in England and Wales (1893 Elementary Education Act - compulsory education 5-16 at the time the usual leaving age was ten)

• 1894 in Scotland

• Majority of provision residential

Changing Views

• Klein (1842) in Austria made the case for education in mainstream schools:

• …the need is obvious that education of blind children…be provided in their parental home and in the school of their community

Egerton Report 1889

• The free intercourse with the living gives courage and self reliance to the blind and a healthy stimulus which enables them to compete more successfully in later life than those who have been brought up together in blind institutions.

State Day Schools

• Scottish Education Act 1872

• England - first day school opened in 1879

Partial Sight

• 1908 first special class for high myopes

• By 1930 there were 37 schools providing for 2000 pupils

• Most attended local schools with no recognition of their needs or attended residential schools for the blind

Committee of Enquiry1936

• Recommended that these pupils be educated in ordinary schools - also recommended that

• schools for the blind be reorganised and some designated for children with partial sight.

The Medical View

• Ophthalmologists - previously restricted the use of sight for those who were partially sighted such as the ‘over-use’ of sight for reading and writing and the avoidance of physical exercise.

1944 Education Act

• Blind and partially sighted two distinct categories:

• Blind: pupils who have no sight or whose sight is likely to become so defective that they need education by methods not involving the use of sight.

• Partially Sighted: pupils who by reason of their defective vision cannot follow the ordinary curriculum without detriment to their educational development, but can be educated by special methods involving the use of sight.

1972 Vernon Report

• Established term ‘visual handicap’ to cover all aspects of visual impairment.

• Ended separate provision for blind and partially sighted pupils.

• Criticised the BD8 - medically based registration

Beginnings

• 1981 Warnock

• 1985 Fish Report: Views of parents – wanted more integration but also access to a peer group with similar disabilities

• 1988 Education Act

Systematic change

• 2004 ECM – change for children

• Universal and targeted services – integrated

• Multi agency work

• School workforce reform

New Role for Local Authorities

• Education White Paper 2006

• Pooling resources across sectors

• Commissioning rather than delivery of services

• Brokerage across schools and services

• Championing

• Empowering

Commissioning

• NEEDS OF POPULATION

• STRATEGIC PLANNING

• PROCESS - consultation

• Explicit targets – mapping –monitoring-data analysis –regular evaluation

Legislation

• 1944 Education Act – Handicap eleven categories

• Warnock – concept of SEN• Salamanca Statement 1994 – inclusion

• SEN Code of Practice (DfES revised 2001)• SENDA 2001 – SEN and Disability Act

Current Special Schools

• 11 special schools for VI• London and South East 3• Midlands 3• North West 4• South West 1