He is therefore vesting considerable hopes in Enquire, the advice service for special educational needs whose first annual conference he was addressing. This has led to fears for the future of special schools, which are attended by just 1 per cent of the school population. But Mr Galbraith stressed that decisions must be taken in the best interests of the child. Although the mainstreaming policy now has statutory backing in the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act, Mr Galbraith said the continuation of special schools was important to provide specialist expertise for complex or severe needs and to allow parents choice. I am aware that sometimes pupils in special schools have a more inclusive educational experience than some of those in mainstream schools.
Mainstream schools can learn from best practice in special schools.
Planning ahead should begin towards the end of primary 6. Some Pounds 12 million is being ploughed into education authority budgets to help with the costs of adapting mainstream school buildings and facilities. It is also vital that schools are given the support they need to ensure that pupils are fully engaged with the school curriculum and in the life of the school. He revealed that more than 13,000 teachers had in-service training courses in special educational needs last year, compared with 4,000 the previous year. The virtues of full inclusion were stressed by Lorna MacLeod, head of Haddington infant school which was praised by HMI for successful integration policies in both nursery and infant classes.