Autistic pupil's 'cage' removed.

[Osem]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...lands-11664558

I've no doubt that the motives behind doing this were good but who could possibly have thought that something like this could ever be appropriate?

Events like this serve to highlight the reality that catering for the many and often challenging needs of children with severe SEN is a real problem in environments not specifically designed to cope with them.

[Taf]

The policy of moving disabled children into mainstream schools to "integrate" had good sides and very bad sides. As a parent of disabled twins who have just left secondary school, I know this all too well. Some handicaps require a lot of one-on-one attention which seems to vanish within weeks in many schools I visited.

And it's all down to budgets.

The story suggests to me that the problem here was a communication breakdown between the council and the contractor that built the cage, rather than anyone thinking it was an appropriate place to put an autistic pupil.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

The story suggests to me that the problem here was a communication breakdown between the council and the contractor that built the cage, rather than anyone thinking it was an appropriate place to put an autistic pupil.

Didn't the school give the contractors any brief or guidelines as to what was required or get any plans of what was going to be provided for the money beforehand? Didn't they seek the advice of specialists from the local authority, for example, in terms of what might be suitable for the purpose? If not, why not? Who were these contractors and did anyone bother to check whether they had any knowledge of such things before giving them the job?

The fact that work was apparently completed before anyone noticed it was unacceptable indicates serious failings at all levels. It seems the contractors felt their work was appropriate and that staggers me frankly, unless of course their impression was that they were building a pen for a very large rabbit. The fact that it got so far before the alarm bells started ringing suggests to me that those responsible for the welfare of this pupil took their eyes off the ball. A communication breakdown is one thing but this smacks of a systemic failure.

Anyone working within SEN knows that a great deal of attention needs to be given to the fine detail and that was the point I was making with regard to special schools which are far better organised and equipped to provide for those with severe SEN. As I've said I'm sure the project was well intentioned but to me it reveals a staggering lack of professionalism and oversight on the part of those involved in the process.

---------- Post added at 12:00 ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

The policy of moving disabled children into mainstream schools to "integrate" had good sides and very bad sides. As a parent of disabled twins who have just left secondary school, I know this all too well. Some handicaps require a lot of one-on-one attention which seems to vanish within weeks in many schools I visited.

And it's all down to budgets.

You're quite right in many cases I'm afraid. There's no doubt that integration is right for some, perhaps the majority of SEN children, but to imply that it's a panacea which makes special schools obsolete, as some proponents of it do, is rubbish as born out by your personal experience.

[Taf]

Bullying, despite all the school's "policies", still existed too... and the school REFUSED to do anything about any incident.

Pupils who chose to become friends of SEN pupils also got bullied for that too.

Another problem is that many schools have loads of SEN pupils in SEN classes who are not disabled in any way, but either disruptive, don't want to learn or have a history of truancy. They often draw staff away from the disabled pupils.

Originally Posted by Osem

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...lands-11664558

I've no doubt that the motives behind doing this were good but who could possibly have thought that something like this could ever be appropriate?

Events like this serve to highlight the reality that catering for the many and often challenging needs of children with severe SEN is a real problem in environments not specifically designed to cope with them.

Agreed! I've only so far been to one school locally that had facilities for children in wheelchairs and that was a very new build.

---------- Post added at 15:00 ---------- Previous post was at 14:49 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

Bullying, despite all the school's "policies", still existed too... and the school REFUSED to do anything about any incident.

Pupils who chose to become friends of SEN pupils also got bullied for that too.

Another problem is that many schools have loads of SEN pupils in SEN classes who are not disabled in any way, but either disruptive, don't want to learn or have a history of truancy. They often draw staff away from the disabled pupils.

Your last point is particularly true..It's also not fair that those SEN students who really do want to learn get lumped in with the severely disruptive who are not actually SEN rated themselves.Just bone idle.

I do like the idea of inclusive education but it cannot always work and for the more mentally fragile it seems a disaster.

I remember a Downs syndrome child who just couldn't concentrate most of the time with the consequence his 'helpers' were doing most of his written notes and he virtually did no work of his own.I'm not sure what he gained from the experience and I felt the whole experience was more for his parent's benefit than for his.
Mind there was an added bonus in that his classmates learned at first hand experience how to deal with a Downs Syndrome peer..I felt that any future meetings they had with mentally and physically challenged people would be positive.

[punky]

Forgive my ignorance osem, but... I don't see the issue?

The term cage is an emotive one with regards to housing people. Whatever you call it, it has to keep him enclosed, presumably for his own safety as well as others. At least he can see through it. Much better than if it had been 4 walls made of brick? That would be worse. OK, the 'cage' isn't the most asthetically pleasing structure but it does the job. They could spend more on bricks and wood and it would look more pleasing the the eye, but wouldn't be any more functional? Put some pictures up, some toys in and it would be more comfortable?

If he was forced to live, eat and defecate in there I can see the issue, but it's a just a temporary outdoor play area?

Originally Posted by punky

Forgive my ignorance osem, but... I don't see the issue?

The term cage is an emotive one with regards to housing people. Whatever you call it, it has to keep him enclosed, presumably for his own safety as well as others. At least he can see through it. Much better than if it had been 4 walls made of brick? That would be worse. OK, the 'cage' isn't the most asthetically pleasing structure but it does the job. They could spend more on bricks and wood and it would look more pleasing the the eye, but wouldn't be any more functional? Put some pictures up, some toys in and it would be more comfortable?

If he was forced to live, eat and defecate in there I can see the issue, but it's a just a temporary outdoor play area?

The parents 'paid' for something entirely different though.I think they expected at least a seat for the young adult.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by punky

Forgive my ignorance osem, but... I don't see the issue?

The term cage is an emotive one with regards to housing people. Whatever you call it, it has to keep him enclosed, presumably for his own safety as well as others. At least he can see through it. Much better than if it had been 4 walls made of brick? That would be worse. OK, the 'cage' isn't the most asthetically pleasing structure but it does the job. They could spend more on bricks and wood and it would look more pleasing the the eye, but wouldn't be any more functional? Put some pictures up, some toys in and it would be more comfortable?

If he was forced to live, eat and defecate in there I can see the issue, but it's a just a temporary outdoor play area?

... and I thought I'd summed that all up...

The cage has since been removed and all involved now seem to agree that a serious mistake was made so there's the issue. If you were able to see the sort of thought, effort and design that goes into properly designed safe indoor/outdoor play areas for children like this then you'd understand some of what's wrong with this 'effort' and why it would never be considered appropriate. Yes it is an emotive issue but I think most of us accept that it's important that children such as these be treated with dignity and respect and that the facilities provided for them are conducive to that. This 'effort' clearly wasn't.

[Taf]

What is planned and what actually gets built is often far from what is needed... and I have seen some real doozies (wheelchair ramps at 45 degs or greater for example). Surely there is a central point somewhere in the country with decent plans, etc. for modifications, etc. ?

As far as the "cage" is concerned, I'm shocked that there is no sunshade, SPF5000 dispenser, fire alarm, extinguisher, First Aid post or H&S posters in there!

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Taf

What is planned and what actually gets built is often far from what is needed... and I have seen some real doozies (wheelchair ramps at 45 degs or greater for example). Surely there is a central point somewhere in the country with decent plans, etc. for modifications, etc. ?

You'd have thought so wouldn't you. Sadly, in my experience, it doesn't always happen. Some years ago I set up a parents group which successfully lobbied our LA and eventually managed to persuade them to provide funding to replace some ancient leaking and drafty wooden huts which were being used as a special infant unit. Despite our best efforts, neither the parents or the unit staff were consulted about the design of the new unit at all. Whilst not design experts, parents of children with disabilties and the real life users of such facilities are often able to provide very valuable, practical input into their design. In our case although new facilities were ultimately provided which were far better than those they replaced, costly mistakes were made with certain superfluous and unsuitable facilities being provided yet some much needed ones being omitted, basically because those responsible for their design and specification of the new unit didn't really understand the complex needs of the children.

That having been said in our borough at least, things have improved to the extent that I don't think something like the 'cage' could never happen here and consultation about such things is more common and inclusive. Something really important has therefore been achieved here to the benefit of our vulnerable children and young people who don't have a voice of their own.

---------- Post added at 16:25 ---------- Previous post was at 15:56 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I do like the idea of inclusive education but it cannot always work and for the more mentally fragile it seems a disaster.

I remember a Downs syndrome child who just couldn't concentrate most of the time with the consequence his 'helpers' were doing most of his written notes and he virtually did no work of his own.I'm not sure what he gained from the experience and I felt the whole experience was more for his parent's benefit than for his.
Mind there was an added bonus in that his classmates learned at first hand experience how to deal with a Downs Syndrome peer..I felt that any future meetings they had with mentally and physically challenged people would be positive.

Our special schools have adopted integration to the extent that groups of children regularly visit mainstream schools and take part in certain lessons or activites. IMO this is very valuable since it exposes the mainstream children to their disabled peers, helps educate them about their problems/needs and engenders a degree of empathy which is very useful. This I believe goes a long way to preventing some of the very hurtful behaviour and abuse which used to be routinely directed at SEN children.