At first the special state and physical challenging was required to have an opportunity to study at home. It was completely necessary to prove the right to have an education home tutor – for the only desire was not enough to be transferred to such form of education.

Still time passes and the conditions and terms have changed considerably. External studies became accessible to all persons interested. Students of any levels – from beginners to almost graduators - may choose this kind of education. There are no age limits. Moreover there is no need to explain the reasons for your choice – in any case school administration does not have a right to turn down a student’s application.

Since the situation changed not only those who fall behind, but talented pupils as well got interested in external studies. It’s becoming more and more difficult to enter any solid and prestigious university year by year the process of preparation takes too much forces and time. Purposeful pupils do not want to spend their time on daily school routine. External studies allow planning your day timetable according to the courses schedule or tutorial studies. That is the main reason for the number increase of those interested in external studies.

For Any Taste

There are at least two variants of organizing external studies which depend on the time you posses.

Whether you have enough time you may transfer to the home education option within your school community. The only thing required is the application for the head master. This method is popular among the parents of talented children who are far ahead from their peers in development. They get bored at the conventional classes and external studies allow broadening the curriculum according to personal desires and abilities. This variant is appropriate as well to difficult children who can foe some reasons get on with their classmates or teachers.

An external student has the same rights as his “day-time” classmates. Education home tutor, free-of-charge library usage, labor works attendance (if necessary). He may take part in school competitions. To get a degree a pupil has to take and pass state exams. Such kind of education is absolutely free except additional services and options.

Correspondence form takes place in normal time regime. It’s impossible to make two years in one for there are special intensive external studies programs for this purpose.

One of the main features is module education. For examples the first week implies lectures in history, then in maths and so on. All the information is given briefly and requires self-work mostly.

Alternative education in the United Kingdom is traced to 18th century when charity organizations began to take special care of the poor and disabled. This process contained education with health protection. Several establishments of the kind are known to have been patronizing deaf and blind children. The beginning of the 19th century gave the start to blind children education in special schools but the establishments meant for children with sensory alternations appeared a bit later.

Initially the state didn’t participate in disabled children education and only in 1893 the British Schools administrations were obliged to provide proper education to deaf and blind children. In 6 years they got a permission to organize alternative education for kids with epilepsy, physical alternations and mental disorders. This direction however was implemented only in 1914- concerning mentally challenged and in 1918- physically challenged and epileptics.

Till the very 1944 the wide growth of special schools number was observed but it seemed to take place by fits and starts. The observers of that time noticed that the quality and quantity of the education provided considerably varied in different parts of the country. In some cases it was all-round, friendly and was guided by experienced professionals, in others – it didn’t practically take place, and its quality left much to be desired.

The First Step to a New Model

1944 is considered to be the critical year for the history of special education in Great Britain for the reform took place this year. 8 special categories of pupils were drawn:

• Blind
• Starblind
• Deaf
• Weak- eared
• Hyposthenics
• diabetics
• epileptics
• disabled to adopt to surroundings
• physically changed
• with aphasia
• disabled to study

In Great Britain there may be both state and independent special schools. Independent ones comprise private financing rank and were sponsored by charity funds and organizations.

The most important aspect of special school money support is the relation between educational system, healthcare system and social provision. Administration is to provide medical service when necessary.

The Problems of Special Education Direction

• to reveal whether the child needs special care, education and help either in compulsory school or during preschool period
• to direct to a certain special school after the conclusion of disability or inefficiency to study in a compulsory school.

The child with apparent alternations usually is examined long before he reaches the school age, which helps to direct him to a school meeting his needs completely.