With a little help from my friends? Integration and the role of mainstream pupils

This paper examines the role of mainstream pupils in the integration of pupils with special educational needs (SEN), based on their accounts of this process. It is argued that mainstream pupils control the experiences of pupils with SEN in both positive and negative ways and that schools need to become more aware of this if integration is to be successful. The paper ends with some suggestions as to how schools might guide mainstream pupils’ understanding of disability and promote good relationships.