Bullying and special needs top helpline call concerns

BULLYING, help for special needs children and advice on what to do with a child who refuses to go to school were the main concerns of parents using a new education helpline.

Almost 1,700 people have called the National Educational Welfare Board helpline since it was launched in March this year - or more than 140 callers a week. Seventy-seven percent of those callers were concerned parents, while the rest were from schools.

Statistics from its first quarter of operations reveal that 18% of calls were from parents seeking help for pupils with special needs, 17% were related to concerns about bullying and 16% of calls were from those who have a child who refuses to attend school.