I welcome this platform for expression of ideas, I hope it reaches the necessary parties for consideration of implementation. 

In my 15 + years in dealing with the special needs population I have seen a good amount of children who pass through the primary education system having not fully grasped the necessary concepts to successfully move on to the next level of their educational development, but still move on. These children often complete primary years with Cumulative Cognitive Deficits, where for some reason a child has gaps in their learning of concepts, may have failed to master a concept and is then required to use knowledge of said concept going forward. Children with these problems are usually the ones with the behavioral issues. I dare say that the root of the violence and problems we have in our secondary schools stem form issues such as this and in an effort to deal with the problem for a better Barbados in the next 10 years we need to address the problem from the ground up, that is, beginning in the preschool and primary years.The earlier problems can be identified the sooner they can be dealt with. I therefore suggest the following

1. A liaison be made between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and a specific person be assigned to follow children referred and treated  at the Albert Cecil Graham Development Center through out their primary years.  Especially the ones with difficulties that may only require basic curriculum modification in keeping with class room inclusion. , lending support where necessary to teachers.
2. In the spirit of inclusion for the special needs population within the regular classroom the curriculum be flexible enough to exclude teaching of subject that the child may not need during the early years...example in place of Religious Knowledge a child with Autism could take an additional Language Arts lesson in another class room to enforce concepts.
3. Teachers in the nursery and Infants schools be required to do continuing education courses in classroom management and early childhood support as this would put them in a position to highlight  children with difficulties sooner.
4. A programme supporting an "All A Board"policy as it relates to dealing with young children with behavioral challenges. Where teachers Parents and therapist all work together to work on the way forward for these kids.
5. Finally implement an  intensive summer programme with qualified Teachers  for all children reception - class 1 scoring below 50% in a given school year to review concepts taught that year level. 

These are only a few of my ides, i am passionate about education and believe this is a big is part of the way forward for Barbados.

Regards

Reneé Forde