STUDENTS have shared their fears and hopes about the shake-up of York's special schools through workshops and a drama performance.

Pupils are preparing for next year, when all four of the city's existing special educational needs schools will close. The existing schools will be replaced by two new schools, one at the site of Galtres School, Burnholme, and another on the site of Hob Moor School, Acomb.

Some children with special needs have already moved to mainstream schools, but there is expected to be a big influx when the schools finally close.

As a result, children from four schools have taken part in a project which has involved workshops looking at the issue of inclusion from the point of view of young people.

The aim of the project was to learn from the experiences of pupils in both special educational and mainstream schools.

Youngsters from All Saints', and Canon Lee secondary schools and Fulford Cross and Northfield special schools took part in a performance, called Go On Then, Make Inclusion Work, which marked the culmination of the workshops.

Later this year, a training video and resource pack based on the work will be produced for school use

Teacher Bev Veasey, who jointly co-ordinated the drama work, said young people shared many of the same fears about moving to new schools. She said: "All young people want the same opportunities. They want equal opportunities to learn and socialise. Pupils say teachers have a critical role and need to be trained and supported to help them better respond the needs of all children."

Chris Wyman, a teacher at Fulford Cross School, said all children disliked the special needs label and as one pupil had put it: "Everyone is disabled. Everyone has something wrong with them, nobody is perfect."

Assistant director of education at City of York Council, Murray Rose, said: "The reorganisation of special educational provision is in line with the Government's National Strategy about how the needs of all pupils can best be met.

"In this process it is vital to listen to the experiences of children to inform practice.

"What they are saying is that it can be the little things as well as the major issues that have a profound and lasting effect on them."

The performance of Go On Then, Make Inclusion Work took place at the National Centre for Early Music on Monday.

Updated: 10:02 Wednesday, March 19, 2003