Pupils in special schools are more similar to pupils in mainstream schools than is often realised. True, some special needs pupils may look a little different or have unusual mannerisms. Some have to use wheelchairs to get about and some of them may have difficulties, sometimes severe difficulties, in communicating. They all, generally, learn much more slowly than mainstream pupils. But, fundamentally, they are the same as their colleagues in mainstream schools. They want to be treated with dignity and respect, to make their own decisions and be independent. They get bored easily, they like to socialise and they want lessons to be enjoyable and related to their interests. And, just like their mainstream peers, they are entitled to learn as much as possible of the National Curriculum.

However, both mainstream and special needs students approaching the end of their school career can sometimes find that the National Curriculum subjects seem unrelated to the everyday adult world they are about to enter. They may want to learn practical skills more directly relevant to their lives beyond school. So, mainstream schools offer “Increased Flexibility” programmes, work-related learning and vocational courses. Similarly, special schools have been developing equivalent programmes which help students to reach out to the wider world beyond school, to become established in their local community and to acquire important practical skills for their adult life.

This website describes such initiatives in five special schools in Suffolk . Four of the initiatives are new courses established in partnership with mainstream schools or colleges, although the rationale for the partnership and the nature of the programme are different in each case. Sometimes, as at The Ashley School, the partnership arises because the special school and the neighbouring mainstream school both have similar types of students with special needs. In other cases, such as Thomas Wolsey and Beacon Hill schools, local partnerships have been created because they provide specialist facilities and teaching not available in the special school. By contrast, Belstead School in Ipswich forges partnerships with distant mainstream institutions to help students who come to Belstead from other areas of Suffolk to get to know their local community. At Riverwalk School , the innovation is not a course but new methods to help students play a bigger role in making decisions about their future lives.

It is hoped that this website provides an insight into current special school developments which will be of interest both to those who work in special schools and to their mainstream colleagues, especially as they increasingly work in partnership.