Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the research which her Department is sponsoring to evaluate local schemes for the education of handicapped children in ordinary schools will start; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe research, to be carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research, will start next September and take three years. It will examine in depth the current provision for handicapped children in ordinary schools in a selection of areas and try to identify those factors which make for successful integration. The Foundation will work closely with my Department and with teams set up by the participating local education authorities to monitor and assess the social and emotional as well as the educational development of the children concerned.