Cap cuts special needs pupils’ hours

Children in hundreds of schools are getting less than 85% of the extra teaching they need for special needs because a cap on teacher numbers was reached in the first weeks of the school year.

While schools continue to get additional mainstream teachers for all pupils as numbers rise, a Government limit remains in place on the number of resource teachers and learning support teachers working with children with special needs.

Schools were told last year they would only be given 85% of the resource teaching hours recommended by experts for pupils with more acute needs in September, so late applications during the school year could be accommodated. These hours cover children with autism and a range of disabilities, including physical disability, emotional disturbance, moderate and severe general learning disabilities, or speech and language disorder.