What Does ‘Inter‐professional Collaboration’ Mean to Professionals Working with Pupils with Physical Disabilities?

Abstract

Jackie Graham, Schools Adviser (Special Educational Needs), Sheffield, and Jannet A. Wright, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Human Communication Science, University College, London, describe an investigation into multi‐professional collaboration in special schools. Over many years such an approach to the assessment and meeting of special needs has been advocated and was reinforced in the Government’s Meeting Special Educational Needs: a Programme of Action (DfEE, 1998). Awareness of both the obstacles to achieving such working practice and its desirability led to the investigation. Consequently a collaboration scale was developed based on professional descriptions of collaborative activities. This important tool clarifies the concept of collaboration in a school context and may be used to develop a holistic approach to meeting special needs in a variety of educational settings.