Special needs children ‘placed inappropriately in mainstream schools’

CHILDREN with special needs are too often being placed inappropriately in mainstream schools, costing them a proper education, a teachers’ leader warned at the weekend.

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Carr said the Government policy of inclusion for children with special educational needs is strongly supported by the union.

But, he said, the policy is not implemented properly, creating false expectations for parents and sometimes ignoring the educational needs of pupils.