ABSTRACT
Children in Northern Ireland who are assessed as having special educational needs (SEN) are educated either in mainstream schools or in one of the 45 special schools that provide support for those with moderate or severe learning diffi culties. These special schools had 4,669 students in 2004-5 while there were 15,478 SEN pupils in post-primary education (10 per cent of the overall numbers in this sector) and 31,739 pupils in mainstream primary schools, 18 per cent of the primary school population. In line with governments in many countries, the Northern Ireland Department of Education’s policy in regard to such children is to seek as far as possible to educate them in mainstream education. This will increase the probability that all teachers will, at some stage in their career, have the opportunity to work with children who have a statement of special educational need.
