Nationally, 32.1 per cent of pupils in special schools are eligible forfree school meals. But only 13.4 per cent of pupils in secondary schoolsand 16 per cent in nursery and primary schools fall into thiscategory.
The proportion of disadvantaged pupils in special schools varies greatlyacross the country. In some constituencies up to 82 per cent of specialschool pupils are eligible for free school meals.
In 48 constituencies, more than half of children at special schools wereeligible for free school meals.
John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, saidthe evidence suggests a link between severe deprivation in the earlyyears and learning difficulties in later life.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
