Links between special and ordinary schools ‐‐ a study of their prevalence and purpose

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Abstract
Links between special and ordinary schools may involve the sharing of staff, pupils or resources. In this paper data from a questionnaire survey of a quarter of the special schools in England and Wales are presented which show the extent of such links. The different forms that links take are described and the reasons for their formation are outlined. The finding that 85 per cent of special schools had links with ordinary schools, or had plans to develop them or had past experience of them, suggests that such arrangements are of significance in special schools in England and Wales. Links open up contact between different establishments and may focus attention on the function of special schools. They are an important element in any discussion of the future of special schools and deserve careful scrutiny.