But Hobby noted that the attainment gap between special needs pupils and others had not changed.
Transition posters for special educational needs pupils moving into secondary school.
Special schools with surplus places face funding cuts as a result of a change in the way provision for 'high needs' pupils will be funded from April 2013.
Under the new system mainstream schools will have to fund special needs pupils from their own budgets unless the cost exceeds £10,000.
Other key findings show boys are over three times more likely to be excluded than girls and special educational needs pupils account for 70 per cent of permanent exclusions – the highest number in any group.
If we accept that schools are communities with local needs, pupils, teachers, parents, governors and support agencies need to relate to each other, and share an understanding of the goals and targets of an effective school.
The children at the Woodford Valley learning centre have individual timetables to join mainstream classes for academic work or to reinforce social skills, but the centre remains a safe haven for special needs pupils.
With no local authorities to plan for crucial things like rising and falling birthrates, for making provision for special educational needs pupils, for English as an additional language learners, for our most disadvantaged children, chaos will surely follow.
RR More flexible leave for parents, father-friendly access arrangements following relationship breakups, faster adoption processes and better help for special needs pupils will be included in a new children and families bill, designed to be a central plank of government policy.
There will be better support for special needs pupils and improved access arrangements for divorced fathers in England.
