[A study of children with special needs in mainstream schools and the role of nursing teachers].
OBJECTIVE
Principals of elementary schools and classroom teachers of classes for children with special needs were surveyed by questionnaire to identify the features of children with special needs in mainstream schools and the role of nursing teachers.


METHODS
Subjects in Y prefecture were asked to consider several items including the following: 1) presence in class of children with special needs; 2) presence of a child with special needs who was a target of a class or a school for children with special needs; 3) presence of education for special needs experience; 4) obstacles that such children face; 5) the relation with a nursing teacher from June to August in 1998.


RESULTS
1. There was no class for children with special needs in 87 among 135 schools. Children with special needs were present in 27 out of 87 schools, and the frequency of children with special needs was about 0.3% in mainsteam classes. 2. The total number of children in classes for special needs was 177 including 142 (79.8%) with intellectual disabilities, 77 (43.3%) with complex disabilities and 61 (34.3%) requiring medical care. 3. Ninety percent of teachers of special needs classes asked a school nurse about health care for special needs and how to cope with matters relating to disabilities. 4. Ninety percent of teachers of special needs classes were concerned about matters such as the method of teaching and coping with matters relating to disabilities.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey found that there are children with special needs in mainstream classes. The situation with the disabilities is an appreciable number of complex, so teachers of special needs classes had many concerns. Those teachers are inclined to be isolated in school. To achieve good educational outcomes for children with special needs it is important to develop a systematic network between school and experts such as medical doctors and educational professionals. Nursing teachers could play an important role in their relation, with medical specialists.
D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012573:School Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires