ABSTRACT
The role and the future of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) has been an area of significant political debate during the last decade. Tension exists between the need for local interpretations of legislation and the DfES guidance to meet the educational needs of the community, and a desire to control provision from central government. The LEA can be seen as having an unenviable task in delivering educational provision within a centrally controlled legislative framework through differing local resources. There are few areas more emotive and demanding for individual pupils than inclusion, and consequently the inclusion agenda for the LEA can easily become politically charged.
