Developing services to meet the special heeds of children under five: towards collective responsibility

Abstract

SUMMARY. This article is based on a keynote talk given at a dg seminar on Under Fives: Special Needs, Special Services?held at the National Children's Bureau in June 1987. The purpose of the seminar is sketched as an introduction. Historical evolution of traditions and practice in early childhood education and in special education are traced and common Principles are identified as a basis for reconciling these traditions to form collective responses to young children's special needs. A number of recent and current initiatives are described which attest to the potential for developing policies on under fives and special needs which epitomise working partnerships between statutory and voluntary services and families.