THE number of pupils with special educational needs in schools has spiralled by almost 25,000 in little more than a decade.
New statistics reveal that approximately 74,750 pupils now have some form of special educational needs (SEN) - 22 per cent of the entire school population.
The figures were included in a new statistical bulletin detailing enrolment data from the 2015/16 annual school census.
Of those children and young people with SEN, more than 16,500, or 4.9 per cent of all pupils, have a statement.
The total numbers of statemented and non-statemented have increased significantly since 2003/04, the bulletin showed.
In 2003/04, there were 50,266 with SEN, of whom 10,999 had statements.
Experts say the massive increase is partly due to earlier and better identification.
In addition, the Department of Education has a policy of inclusion to support the needs of SEN children, which has seen many more pupils having their individual needs met within a mainstream setting.
It has been claimed that some teachers are too quick to label children as having SEN. The numbers registered are rising annually while pupil numbers overall have plummeted.
Schools say there are various reasons for this but suggest it could be due to the process lacking standardisation. There have also been increases in diagnoses of autism, asperger's syndrome, dyslexia and attention deficit disorder.
A five-staged approach is used in identifying and catering for a child's special needs, and the majority of SEN children are on stages 1-4.
A child will be registered at Stage 1 or 2 if their teacher notes any concern about their learning and takes action in consultation with their parents. The school moves on to Stage 3 if the problem persists. Then, specialist help or external advice from educational psychologists is requested.
Stage 4 is the first education board-based stage in which statutory assessment is the focus.
Only Stage 5 involves the issuing of a statement, which involves the board either in making additional resources available to a mainstream school or indicating that a change of placement may be necessary for the child.
The latest figures also showed an additional 1,300 pupils with any needs and almost 600 additional pupils with statements this year compared to last
Approximately 5,200 pupils are enrolled in 39 dedicated special schools. In addition to this, more than 1,700 are educated in learning support centres in primary and post-primary schools.
SEN pupils are increasingly being educated in mainstream rather than special schools. In 2003/04, 39.6 peer cent of statemented pupils and 9.8 per cent of pupils with any needs attended special schools. In 2015/16 the corresponding figures dropped to 29.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively.
