'The system is failing' - Children with additional needs get less school support than 15 years ago

The survey found that 84% of principals reported an increase in pupils with additional needs in the past four years. File picture: Danny Lawson/PA

Primary school principals have said children with additional needs are receiving an average of 21% fewer hours of specialised learning support now than they were 15 years ago, prompting claims that these pupils are being 'failed by the Government'.

The survey by the National Principals' Forum set out to compare the number of hours that schools would have been afforded in 2007 when the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) used a different algorithm for calculating hours to the number of hours schools receive this year using the 'SET Allocation Model' which was designed to be a “better and more equitable way”.