Children of all needs must learn together 

An inclusive education system lays the basis for respect for all differences, so we cannot continue separating children with special needs from the mainstream

One marker of progress in terms of inclusive education is less reliance on separate special schools, however 11 new special schools have opened in the last five years and more are planned.

We are at a crossroads in relation to inclusive education in Ireland. Are we going to maintain a model of separation or put momentum into fostering an inclusive system? By all accounts, the answer is the latter. However, to do this, everyone from teachers and parents to policymakers needs to get behind it.

With projected numbers of children and young people requiring specialist support set to increase over the next decade, we have choices to make as a society. We can continue to develop along the present path which will result in an increased number of separate special schools and classes.