LEARNING TO ENABLE

Through one Headteacher s ethnographic§analysis of practice within his school, this book §investigates how §enabling environments can be achieved within special §schools for §pupils with severe learning difficulties. Drawing §heavily on social §constructivism and activity theory, a comprehensive §analysis of the origins of special education is §given, current models of §disability are critiqued and the perspectives of §pupils, staff and parents §are explored. Major implications and recommendations §for practice are set §out alongside a new model for organisational §analysis and improvement, §based on a progressive view of special education. A §new model of §understanding the experience of disabled children §and young people, §centred on an interactive view §of the individual and society, is put forward to §support the §development of enabling practices for all children. §This book will be of interest to §special educators in §general and, in particular, to school leaders and §policy-makers. §Also, anyone thinking of embarking on prolonged §study within their §professional environment, especially Headteachers, §will find this §book invaluable.