My wife, Nancy McArdle, who has died aged 67 of pancreatic cancer, contributed enormously to special education in Suffolk, promoting inclusive education for children with complex medical conditions and additional needs.
Nancy was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, one of four children, to Adelaide (nee Robson), a housewife, and Palmer, a scaffolder and rigger. On leaving Blaydon grammar school, Nancy worked in banking in Newcastle, training staff in foreign exchange. However, she became disillusioned, as there was little opportunity for senior promotions for a woman.
She left in 1967, to study at Oastler teacher training college, Huddersfield. After qualifying, Nancy taught in Halifax, before entering the field of special education in Glasgow. We married in 1974. She became deputy head of Elizabeth Fry special school in Newham, east London, and, in 1992, head of Thomas Wolsey special school in Ipswich, serving the whole of Suffolk.
Some pupils had to travel long distances, a worry for parents with very young children. In 2001, Nancy created the Outreach dual placement service, which has since expanded, to support children attending both Thomas Wolsey and local community schools: staff included an occupational therapist and a parent-partnership worker. Thomas Wolsey teaching staff also visited mainstream schools to advise on pupils’ needs and learning styles. Her work was recognised nationally in 2004, when she received a National Training Award.
Nancy then created a team of specialist learning support assistants (SLSAs), to enable pupils with very complex medical conditions to attend school on a regular basis. There are now 16 SLSAs and a children’s nurse.
Throughout her headship, Nancy’s goal was to see Thomas Wolsey co-operate with mainstream schools, so that pupils could learn from each other. A shared site was completed just before she retired in 2010. The Thomas Wolsey building has sensory wall panels created by design technology pupils at Thurleston high school (now Ormiston Endeavour academy) after spending time getting to know Thomas Wolsey pupils. The schools combine for musical events and share a library, dining-room and council. Ormiston pupils carry out work experience at Thomas Wolsey, and some Thomas Wolsey pupils go to Ormiston for lessons.
Nancy was president of the Suffolk branch of the National Association of Head Teachers in 1998-99 and a member of a consortium of head teachers planning a fully inclusive sixth-form college in Ipswich. Her role was to promote the interests of special-school pupils, parents and staff to ensure that curriculum, resources, buildings and finance were incorporated into the project. Suffolk One opened in September 2010. Although Nancy had retired, she was present to welcome students on their first day.
She is survived by me and our son, Martin.
