ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the more closely at the caring aspect of residential special schools. Children who once would have gone into residential children’s homes provided by the local authorities are now finding their way into residential special schools or communities. In the case of emotionally damaged children, parents and children will need intensive support from outside in order to achieve the 'planned environmental therapy'. The therapeutic community at a residential establishment for children includes the child as a contributor to the healing process of others. The changes in policy provide an opportunity for referring agencies to sort out more carefully whether a child needs special schooling or residential therapeutic care or both. Because of the 'who does what' traditions in child care, the referring agency is usually the education authority's child guidance service. It is both professional principle and common sense that child care does include emotional and mental health care.
