Schools facing tough decisions

IMPACT has said the projected loss of 1,200 special needs assistants (SNAs) from February will leave three stark choices for mainstream schools teaching children with special education needs.

The union said the cuts increased the likelihood that some children won’t have access to an SNA.

If that happens, the teacher will either have to make extra time to support the child, will have to ignore the student or the child will have to be put into a special education school, cutting them off from mainstream schooling.