Special needs pupils 'short changed' - solicitor

Children with special needs in Wales will be worse off than those in England if a new law is passed, a leading education solicitor has claimed.

Mike Charles said it was unclear whether a planned replacement for statements of special educational needs would still be enforceable by law.

He said improvements seen in England were also missing from the Welsh plans and claimed Welsh children were being "short changed".

The comments come as consultation ends on the Welsh government's white paper on additional learning needs.

The Welsh government said: "The consultation on this important issue ends today and we are grateful to all those who have shared their views with us.

"They will be considered in conjunction with all other responses to the consultation and we will publish our response at the appropriate time."

India Pollock reports