Studying the Development of Special Needs Education is like traveling through a timeline of human rights. It’s a journey from the dark days of institutionalization and “out of sight, out of mind” policies to the modern, vibrant push for full classroom inclusion.
Below is the exam paper download link
Past Paper Development Of Special Needs Education For Revision
Above is the exam paper download link
However, when it comes to the exam, knowing the dates isn’t enough. You need to understand the philosophy behind the shifts in policy. To help you get into the examiner’s mindset, we’ve put together a curated Q&A based on the most frequent topics found in previous years, followed by a link to download the complete past paper archive.
SNE Development: Crucial Revision Questions & Answers
Q1: What was the primary shift triggered by the 1994 Salamanca Statement? A: This is arguably the most important document in SNE history. The Salamanca Statement (signed in Spain) shifted the global focus from “Integration” to “Inclusion.” It argued that every child has a fundamental right to be educated in a regular school, and that the school system must be designed to meet the needs of the child, rather than forcing the child to fit into a pre-existing system.
Q2: How did the “Medical Model” of disability differ from the “Social Model” in early education? A: In the Medical Model, the disability was seen as a “defect” within the individual that needed to be “fixed” or “cured.” In education, this led to segregation in hospitals or special clinics. The Social Model, which gained traction in the late 20th century, argues that “disability” is created by a society that fails to provide ramps, braille, or flexible teaching methods. The problem isn’t the child; it’s the barriers in the environment.
Q3: Explain the significance of the 1978 Warnock Report in the United Kingdom. A: Mary Warnock’s report was a game-changer. It famously abolished the rigid categories of “handicapped” (like “educationally subnormal”) and introduced the broader concept of Special Educational Needs (SEN). It estimated that 1 in 5 children would require some form of special support during their schooling, moving the conversation away from labels and toward provision.
Q4: What is the “Normalization Principle” as proposed by Bengt Nirje and Wolf Wolfensberger? A: This principle emerged in Scandinavia and North America in the 1960s and 70s. It suggests that individuals with disabilities should be allowed to lead lives as close to “normal” as possible—meaning they should go to school, work, and recreate alongside their non-disabled peers in the community, rather than being hidden away in “special” colonies.
Q5: Describe the transition from Segregation to Integration. A: Segregation meant separate schools for different disabilities (e.g., a “School for the Deaf”). Integration was the middle step where students with special needs were brought into regular schools but often placed in a “special unit” or “resource room” for most of the day. They were physically there, but not necessarily socially or academically part of the main class.
Why You Should Use These Past Papers
History and policy can be dry if you just read them from a textbook. Past papers give you a “map” of what examiners actually value. Using our revision kit allows you to:
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Trace the Timeline: See how questions evolve from basic definitions to complex analysis of current laws like the UNCRPD.
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Improve Your Argumentation: Practice writing essays that compare different international frameworks.
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Identify Global Trends: Learn how SNE development in Africa and Asia often follows or diverges from Western models.
Access the Full Revision Archive
Don’t leave your grades to chance. We have organized a decade of past papers, including sample marking schemes and suggested essay outlines on the history of special education