Discussion on MLD in School Education in the UK

Abstract

The emphasis is on educating as many children as possible with special educational needs
alongside others in mainstream schools, although national guidance also requires them to take
into account the views and wishes of children and their parents in the choice of school,
whether mainstream or special. It is likely that some children with Moderate Learning
Difficulties (MLD), if not all of them, will have emotional, behavioral and physical needs
that will need to be met within a broader definition of curriculum (DfES 2003). To address
the issues around the idea of an appropriate curriculum and pedagogy for children with MLD,
it is important to remember that a significant proportion of pupils with Special Education
Needs (SEN) who attend mainstream schools will fall into the MLD category, so it is
important that the curriculum meets their needs.