Special Needs in Early Years Settings

Reviewed by Julie Vaggers, head teacher, Rowland Hill Centre for Childhood, Tottenham, London.

I think this book is timely as it sets out all the requirements of the new revised Code of Practice for those people working with children with special educational needs.

It is well laid out, and the information is very accessible. However, I think that some of the language used is not always as positive as it could be. The book states that the practitioner is obliged, has a duty, and has to cope with the day-to-day management of a child with special educational needs. In chapter nine the author does discuss some of the benefits of inclusion but could go further. This would help to inspire staff. I think more information regarding the positive benefits for all children of inclusive education and the child's right to attend their local setting would have been helpful. The example given in the book of an Individual Education Plan would not be used in our centre because it starts with the child's area of difficulty. We always start our discussions with what the child is doing well, and their likes and interests.

The book does contain a lot of useful medical information. However, if a child in our centre has a medical condition this would not always lead them to be placed on the special educational needs register. They may simply need a health care plan.

All in all this is a practical guide which could explore further the opportunity the new code gives us to celebrate inclusion, the new relationships that this develops and the new future we are all involved in creating.