A study by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, funded by the Department for Education, warns that urgent action is needed to help a new generation of children never before seen in the education system.
It says there has been a rapid increase in the number of children with complex special needs such as foetal alcohol syndrome, mental health problems and the long-term effects of premature birth, due to advances in medical treatment.
The study, which was based on schools in the UK and overseas, and a survey of the latest research into disabilities and special needs, recommends that:
- New training courses are systematically introduced in all schools
- Teachers and health workers learn from parents of children with rare and complex disabilities and special needs
- Extra support and training be given to teaching assistants who play a key role in helping children with disabilities and special needs.
Professor Barry Carpenter, (pictured), who led the research, said, 'This is not just an issue for special schools. Teachers in mainstream schools need to be aware of these trends because they are increasingly likely to encounter children with problems they have not seen before.
'There is a vast amount of promising practice going on in schools at the moment and we saw amazing commitment, insights and expertise among many teachers. But we need urgent action to alert teachers to this fast-growing trend and prepare them for it.'
The SSAT has developed a range of teaching guides for both special and mainstream schools.
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