Special needs pupils wait for help

CHILDREN with learning difficulties are forced to wait more than a year for extra help when they move to second-level education, the ASTI annual convention heard yesterday.

A report presented to delegates showed one in 10 second-level students have some form of special educational need, ranging from mild learning difficulties to serious behavioural disorders.

Seán Hurley, a member of ASTI’s standing committee, said their survey found most schools have students who are not even getting the assessment they need to apply for extra resources.