No plans to close special schools

The government has a policy of inclusion where possible

The government has denied forcing disabled children into mainstream education instead of special schools.

The rebuttal follows the Conservatives' announcement on Friday they might consider reversing Labour's policy of integrating children wherever possible.

The denial comes as Tory MP David Cameron, whose disabled son's special school faces closure, has called for an investigation into the policy.

But the government says there is no need for an inquiry.

There was no agenda to close special schools, a spokesman for the Department for Education said.

And there was no question of pushing inclusion at the expense of special schools because both were important, he added.

This is crazy - we're talking about some of the most vulnerable children in the country with huge needs David Cameron MP

On Friday, the Conservatives said they wanted to ensure disabled children were not suffering educationally from the government's policy of inclusion.

That was why they were considering a controversial move away from "inclusive education".

Mr Cameron has been "heavily involved" in a new Conservative consultation document to find out if the needs of children with physical disabilities or learning problems are being met.

His son has profound physical and learning disabilities and he says he has been told that his local special school may have to close.

He wants an investigation into the policy.

He told the BBC: "This is crazy. We're talking about some of the most vulnerable children in the country with huge needs, they really can't do anything for themselves.

"And yet this blanket policy of inclusion is being used to close special schools."

Pioneering scheme

The Conservatives' consultation document is being sent to about 100 groups or organisations interested in disability.

The document asks: "Is the government's policy of inclusive education for disabled children working or are disabled children being physically included but educationally excluded?"

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis pioneered a scheme to include children with special educational needs when he was headmaster of a school in Middlesbrough.

He agrees with the government's policy on inclusion.

He told the BBC: "The whole movement to 1979 onwards has been to try to make sure that no child is denied a mainstream education simply because of their special needs or disabilities.

"I still think that principal is fundamentally right."

Controversial debate

The charity for people with learning disabilities, Mencap, said it did not want disabled children to be segregated from their peers.

But a spokesman said a choice of special needs or mainstream education should be available to parents.

The debate about integration in schools is very controversial.

Special schools have been closing under Labour under a policy which aims for integration where possible, but such closures often spark strong protests among parents who believe their children's needs are being well met by the school.

At the same time, many parents fight to get their children into mainstream schools.

Teachers' representatives have complained that the drive towards the inclusion of children with learning difficulties and behavioural problems has made teaching and classroom control harder.