Resources fear over special needs pupils

SECOND-LEVEL schools fear they will be unable to meet their legal obligations to students with special needs unless proper resources are provided by the Department of Education, principals said yesterday.

Under the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004, an individual education plan (IEP) must be drawn up for every child assessed as having such needs.

These plans are not yet required in schools but they will set out each student’s learning goals, a time scale in which they should be achieved, teaching strategies and the supports required to meet these goals.