I READ with interest the letter from Mrs Officer (Your Letters, March 19) and her comments about special schools.

I would like to relate our experience. Our 11-year-old daughter has severe learning difficulties and has attended our local primary school since she was four.

We are fortunate in Tenbury that both our primary and high schools have Special Education Centres as an integral part of their education provision. This provides the opportunity for our child to have some specialist teaching in the SEC and to join her mainstream class, with support, enabling her to interact with her peer group, socially and academically.

Our daughter is very happy at school, has good self-esteem and is accepted and valued by the staff and children.

I believe there is a need for continuum of provision for children with special needs. That includes retaining some special schools for those families who choose that option. And that is what is proposed in the consultation document "Review of Provision for Special Educational Needs in Worcestershire."

For our family inclusion is not just an educational issue but a lifelong concept reflecting the need and right of people with special needs to belong to and participate in their local community.

I do firmly believe that inclusion can work, even for children with significant additional needs - our own experience supports this.

ALISON PRICE, Teme Street, Tenbury Wells.