Special needs pupils are being forgotten, according to a study

Students with special needs are unlikely to return to school due to safety concerns, according to a study.

The parents of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are concerned that as their children have needs and are medically vulnerable, it will be tough for them to social distance at school this month.

Headteachers from over 200 schools in England told researchers that the government's guidance for students returning to school was unclear.

Moreover, it highlighted how the government lacked the understanding of how special schools worked, how the children are supported and their reliance on crucial healthcare and charitable services.

The leader of the project and the director of ASK Research, Amy Skipp, said: "Heads and parents told us repeatedly how they felt forgotten about."

She added that "parents should not be being asked to choose between their child's health and their education".

A survey conducted by the University of Sussex found that three out of five parents and carers felt that their child was less stressed at home during lockdown due to the increase of one-to-one contact and the decline of school pressures.

The survey also found that 40% of parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities felt that they had no governmental support during lockdown and felt their children had been forgotten.