ABSTRACT
In order to understand the problems that are getting in the way of developments to include all children in mainstream education one has to recognise the influence of perspectives on practice. This chapter seeks to map out three broad perspectives that seem to inform thinking in the special needs field. The first perspective seeks to explain educational difficulties in terms of the characteristics of individual pupils. The second perspective explains educational difficulties in terms of a mismatch between the characteristics of particular children and the organisational and/or curriculum arrangements made for them. The third perspective explains educational difficulties in terms of curriculum limitations. The initiative which led to 'Developing Successful Learning' was originally prompted by concerns about how to support teachers in meeting the individual needs of all children within the new statutory framework of the National Curriculum. As teachers seek to develop aspects of their practice it is important to be aware of the impact of overall school policy.
