Proposals to create a new school for students with intense special needs has been given a seal of approval by educators.

Headteachers interviewed by The Royal Gazette and the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) said they were in favour of having a separate facility for those parents who wished their severely disabled children to be taken out of mainstream education.

They each said they were in favour of integrating as many special needs students as possible, but said in the most severe cases it did not work.

Sandys Middle School principal Melvyn Bassett said he had seen many special needs students "go from strength to strength" in the classrooms of his school.

But he said where there were extreme medical conditions or communication problems, it created difficulties.

Mr. Bassett said: "I think this issue all depends on the degree of special needs, and it varies considerably.

"I have personally embraced the goal and philosophy of inclusion and have supported the Ministry of Education in developing an inclusion programme.

"We have had children at our school who have had down syndrome, been blind or have had autism, and they have all done extremely well. They have gone from strength to strength. It has been in everybody's best interests for them to be included in the school.

"But there are cases where it is not really practical, such as extreme medical cases. This is where I think the option of a separate facility would be helpful."

Another headteacher, who did not wish to be named, agreed.

She said having special needs children in mainstream schools helped to break down barriers and helped to diminish any embarrassment and discrimination.

And she said often pupils would look after and care for their classmates with special needs.

However, she said there were cases where it did not help.

She added: "For many special needs children, they look exactly the same as everyone else, but they don't function at the same level. Including them in the class teaches them how to get along in the real world, but also teaches the real world how to get along with them.

"Children with special needs can really come along when included, and the paraprofessionals who support them do a sterling job.

"However, the problem is where to draw the line. Where communication, access and severe medical conditions are concerned that's a different story. There are dangers to consider, as well."

But Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he was totally against a separate facility being created and said he preferred separate classrooms, instead.

He said: "When the inclusion programme was adopted a few years ago, Bermuda had come a long way. It had acknowledged that special needs children had a right to an educational experience like all children.

"Further, including special needs children in the regular education system can help combat discriminatory attitudes.

"The better solution is to provide separate classes for children with intense special educational needs."

But BUT general secretary Michael Charles said he was on the side of the Ministry and the principals.

And he said he was not convinced Mr. Smith's idea of having separate classrooms would work because resources would be spread out too thinly, and some children with intense needs may spend most of their time in a classroom on their own, which would not be good.

But he said he would like more definition of what "intense special needs" was.

He said: "I think there are definitely some special needs students who develop and improve in the mainstream schools, but there are students who are definitely out of place in the regular classrooms.

"You also have to consider the issue of whether or not teachers are equipped and trained to deal with children with such severe special needs.

"I think this could be a step in the right direction."

Education Minister Paula Cox told the House of Assembly on Friday that the idea for a separate facility was merely under consideration and final decisions were far from being taken.

And she freely admitted that there were both benefits and disadvantages to the removal of children with severe special needs, but said the idea was just to give parents a choice.

She said: "When we carried out a survey of parents of these students, we discovered that some parents are concerned that their children are not getting the support that they need in the regular schools. It is in response to their concerns that we are considering whether they would be better served in a special school for students with particular needs. We are not suggesting that all students with intense needs must attend this school - rather we are looking at ways to offer parents a choice."

See Editorial, Page 4