Schools to receive less Resource Teaching Support

Schools are to have 15 minutes less Resource Teaching Support every week for the coming school year, it has emerged.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is this week advising schools of their allocation for 2012 and 2013.

The numbers of special needs assistants has been maintained. More than 10,000 positions will be available which is the same as last year.

A major strategic review of special needs education has also begun.

NCSE head of communications Jennifer Doran cas called on schools minimise the impact of the reduction in resource teaching.

"They can withdraw a number of children in a group and they'll have access to more hours as opposed to individual withdrawal with access to less minutes than they currently have," she said.

"A lot of schools are doing that already and doing it very effectively, so we would be encouraging more of that to try and minimise the impact of this reduction."