§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give financial support to any local authority which attempts to educate handicapped children in ordinary primary and secondary schools; if she will make representations to local authorities on the need for such provision; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasAll expenditure by local education authorities on school provision is taken into account for purposes of rate support grant.
It has long been the Department's policy that handicapped children should 219W not attend a special school if they can obtain the special help they need without doing so; and I have already included in building programmes projects for the education of handicapped children at ordinary schools. I consider that further experience of such projects is required before firm conclusions can be reached about the extent to which handicapped children, who vary widely in the nature and severity of their disabilities, can thrive in ordinary schools.