ABSTRACT
A major reason for including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools is social interaction with other children. When pupils learn and play among other children of the same age, they gain good models of appropriate play, language and behaviour. The social interaction and acceptance is a major priority for the families of children with SEND. They want their child to be happy in school, and if that is achieved then other more academic concerns become less significant. Teachers say that including pupils with SEND often takes them back to the core of their vocation, giving them the freedom to be creative with the curriculum and identify the really important aspects of what they teach. By taking time to observe and talk to the child, teachers can discover the underlying reasons for the behaviour and develop relatively simple and practical solutions.
