A FAREHAM MP has launched a drive to encourage more people into special needs teaching as a recruitment crisis in the profession deepens.
Mark Hoban, the Tory shadow education minister, spoke of his concerns over the future of special schools.
He said: "Special schools are at risk because there are not enough new teachers coming in and more than 1,500 will be retiring in the next few years.
"If we are to recruit more teachers for special schools, we need to send a clear signal that we value these schools. We need to give greater support to special schools and the training of teachers."
Mr Hoban's comments came after new figures showed a recruitment slump in an industry in which many workers are nearing retirement age.
Of 1,530 special needs teachers surveyed nationwide, just 100 were recruited since 2001 and 12 per cent were aged 55 or over.
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