This book is a major contribution to the debate about education, social policy and disability in the UK. It is a powerful reminder that we need to think far more expansively about the future of policy and provision as it impacts on children with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN). The Green Paper published by the Coalition government aims to show how government can respond to the diverse needs of pupils and parents, ensuring access to an educational setting of choice – whether it is a mainstream school, academy or special school.

The strong emphasis on empowerment and choice will be welcomed in many quarters. But it also raises significant dilemmas, most notably how to prevent a system of free choice from aggravating historically ingrained inequalities of outcome and opportunity for children with disabilities and SEN. This book lays bare such tensions and explores how policy can advance the cause of all children as the cornerstone of a fairer, more equal society.

Given the global and national economic and political context, the question of disability needs to be understood in a broader context of inequalities, exclusions and discrimination. Thus, the struggle for a political economy of disability, in which the question and demands of human rights, social justice and entitlements under law have become increasingly urgent and necessary.

One of the disturbing aspects of the contemporary position with regard to policy and its implementation is the extent of the differences that are increasingly obvious between commendable rhetoric and actual reality. The extent of the struggle required for effective change to be established and maintained leaves no room for complacency.