He Warnock report Is a document drawn up by the British Education Commission in 1978 concerning the special educational needs of children. This writing is based mostly on the British special education model.
It bears his name in honor of Helen Mary Warnock , A British philosopher who specializes in the philosophy of education. And president of the commission of investigation on special education in his country.
The Warnock report refers to programs for children with disabilities, with emphasis on the special education sector and special educational needs.
One of its main premises is the fact that all children have the right to be educated.
The Warnock report also seeks to promote a model of education, where institutions dedicated to it, are formed in special education. In order to be able to provide the same service to those who have difficulties in learning.
At the same time, this report aims to eliminate differences in education. Understanding that educational needs are common to all children. And it is the school that must adapt to the individual needs of each one of them.
The Warnock report also focuses on the idea that the school should be a place of education and at the same time a support center. Which can provide resources, advice and information to the parents of children attending it.
Central themes of the Warnock Report
The Warnock report has expanded the concepts of Special Education and Special Educational Needs developed to date.
It indicates that the former must satisfy the latter, with special educational needs common to all children.
Among its main premises are the training and improvement of teachers; Education for children under five with special educational needs, and education for 16- to 19-year-olds.
At the same time it raises the concept of diversity and suggests that education should always have the same end. Being a good to which everyone has a right.
Teacher training and development
The Warnock Report states that all teachers must have the necessary conditions to recognize, identify and work with children with special educational needs. Regardless of where they work, these are ordinary or special places.
It establishes that teachers must know and accept the concept of special educational needs.
The report also suggests including in the academic training of teachers, a section corresponding to training in special educational needs. It indicates the need to incorporate a small number of students with these needs into their work. In this way to be able to put into practice the measures learned to meet the special educational needs of its students.
In addition, it promotes the idea of including as teachers to subjects with special needs those who promote teaching, so that children feel motivated to learn.
Education for children under 5 with special educational needs
According to the Warnock report, education must begin early for those born or, shortly after birth, some deficiency is born. It considers of fundamental importance the development of these children and the fact that they can receive an early stimulation according to their needs.
Accordingly, it also recommends expanding the number of nursery schools and special kindergartens for those who have more serious difficulties, thus encouraging those children to start the school year with peers of their own age, in a normal class.
Education of young people aged 16 to 19
The Warnock report promotes the need to create spaces where the education of young people who are still at school age but who continue to make progress in the acquisition of knowledge continue.
To this end, it stresses the importance of creating spaces that can provide these benefits, with a coordinated approach to postsecondary education.
It promotes the idea that these young people can do a specialization and have a space of social exchange. Having as fundamental purpose the development of its autonomy and independence.
Concept of Diversity
It is a key concept used in the Warnock report, which refers to the fact that special educational needs are inherent in all children, as each of them needs and deserves an individualized and comprehensive attention to learn and develop.
It is the responsibility of the school to provide the necessary educational resources and to compensate the students' learning difficulties. To be able to attend to different demands and avoid difficulties.
From this perspective, there will no longer be two distinct groups of children. It removes the notion of the disabled who receive special education and the non-disabled who receive education. All children have educational needs.
What are the special educational needs (SEN)?
By definition, SEN are the needs experienced by those individuals who require help or resources that are not usually available in their educational context.
The Warnock report refers to special educational needs (SEN) as those which refer to some difficulty in learning.
These may be transitional or permanent and require specific attention and educational resources. Offering the people the possibilities of their personal development through the learning experiences corresponding to the curricular design.
Special educational needs are intimately related to the individual and unique characteristics of each child.
It is the school that must have the capacity to respond to different demands. Welcoming all children, regardless of their individual conditions, i To include them with a child-centered pedagogy, and thus be able to meet their special educational needs.
The Warnock report further argues that SEN are common to all children, focusing on their conception of diversity, according to which each child has individual educational needs to be able to learn.
Being those who present a difficulty in learning those who will need a specific attention and resources.
For these cases, the Warnock report proposes five levels for the evaluation of SEN and the support or provision corresponding to each need: Special Education teachers, counselors, local and regional interdisciplinary teams and tutors or directors.
It also proposes the incorporation of individual records for each child with special educational needs. Detailing in these the benefits you need for your progress and personal development.
What is Special Education (EE)?
Education is understood as a good to which all people are entitled, the purposes or objectives of which are the same for all. Moreover, they make no difference between the subjective diversities existing in a society.
This is the concept of Special Education (EE) that popularized the Warnock report, promoting a revision of the concept at the international level.
The main purposes that Education should promote are the increase of the knowledge of the individual about the world around him and his understanding of it. In addition, the understanding of their own responsibilities as a subject belonging to a society and To provide all the tools for the subject to acquire their autonomy and independence, being able to direct and control in this way, their own life.
According to its principles, the Warnock report states that the EE must have a complementary and additional character to that of ordinary education.
For this reason, it also suggests that special schools should not only educate children with severe disabilities but also become centers of support. Providing information, counseling and resources to parents and ordinary schools.
Special education consists in a set of benefits that have as purpose, to satisfy the special needs of a person, having as horizon, to get as close as possible to the achievement of the purposes of education.
Within the educational models can be found the Inclusive education , Special Education and School Integration.
Inclusive Education, is born of the social model of disability. It considers that all children are different from each other, and that it is the school and the educational system that has to change to meet the individual needs of all students. Whether or not they have learning difficulties.
Special Education should be understood as a set of benefits intended to ensure a comprehensive educational process for people with special educational needs.
Understanding benefits such as services, techniques, strategies, knowledge and pedagogical resources according to different needs, whether temporary or permanent.
School Integration functions as a system for unifying ordinary education and special education, providing individual services to children with special educational needs.
The Warnock report is based on an analysis of the situation of Special Education in England.
Its premises and recommendations have been model and reference for the planning and regulation of special educational resources in different parts of the world.
Since its creation, not only have the concepts of Special Education and Special Educational Needs been expanded, but also, great progress has been made in these themes.
References
- Alan Hodkinson, P. V. (2009). Key Issues in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.
- Committee, G.B. (2006). Special Educational Needs: Third Report of Session 2005-06. The Stationery Office.
- Gates, B. (2007). Learning Disabilities: Toward Inclusion. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Katharine T. Bartlett, J. W. (1987). Children With Special Needs. Transaction Publishers.
- Mary Warnock, B. N. (2010). Special Educational Needs: A New Look. A & C Black.
- Tassoni, P. (2003). Supporting Special Needs: Understanding Inclusion in the Early Years.
- The Warnock Report (1978). (N.d.). Retrieved from Educationengland.
- The Warnock Report (further Views) and the Unborn Children (Protection) Bill. (1985). House of Commons Library, Research Division.
- Warnock & SEN (n.d.). Retrieved from Specialeducationalneeds.