User:Karenellen76/sandbox

Christine Laing (February 11th, 1948 to April 6th, 2012) was born to parents William East and Ellen Salter and grew up in Stockwell, South London. She attended Charles Edward Brooke grammar school in Lambeth and then Saffron Walden Teacher Training College in Essex from 1966 to 1969.

After graduation she took her first job as a newly qualified teacher at a primary school in the East end of London. She achieved a Masters in Special Needs Education in 1985 and continued her teaching career at Gurney Special School in Forest Gate where she became a leading advocate of Inclusion in Newham. This led to the closure of Gurney Special School on March 31 1995 after which all its pupils were moved into mainstream education at state schools within Newham borough. Christine ended her career as Head of Services for Education in Newham and was based at the Tunmarsh Centre until her retirement in 2005.

Christine continued her parallel role as vice Chair for Homestart Newham after retirement. She also contributed significantly to the work ofThe Rama Foundation up until her death.