groups.msn.com/CreativeTeachers

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Creative Teachers is a web site set up by a teacher of special needs children on the autistic spectrum. Polly Smith is a teacher in Scotland with vast experience of working with special needs children and she started this site to enable teachers, parents and anyone else with an interest in special needs education to discuss issues.

The site has a forum for debate on issues such as inclusion in mainstream education which appears to be a hot topic. There are also hints and tips for parents and teachers on how to deal with children with special needs and how to let the children get the most out of their education. Polly also gives links to other relevant web sites and posts links to research papers which may be of interest to teachers. One of the issues brought up by contributors is the lack of understanding by mainstream teachers and the need for education in this area. I think this web site helps bridge the gap in knowledge and could be of great use to mainstream teachers finding themselves teaching special needs children. As more children are integrated into mainstream schools this becomes more important.

The site isn't all work and no play though. Polly posts information about herself and her family with some great photos. I think this helps parents especially relate to 'the teacher'. It must be daunting for a parent finding out that their child has special needs but by using this web site they can see that it isn't all doom and gloom but there is a positive way forward. Polly lets them see that teachers do care about their pupils and are approachable real people willing to listen.