Students with special needs suffer disproportionately from school closures

A study shows that nearly 30% of students in schools closed between 2020–2025 had special needs. School closures affect vulnerable student groups more severely than average students.

A new analysis reveals a worrying link between school closures and students with special needs: in schools closed between 2020–2025, children with special needs made up nearly 30% of all students, significantly higher than in average schools.

This means school closures hit hardest precisely those students who need a stable and supportive educational environment most. For children with special needs, the loss of a school often means not just longer commutes, but also the loss of tailored support services and familiar staff.

According to experts, this is no coincidence – low-enrollment schools, which face the greatest closure risk, are often located in rural areas or socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, where the proportion of children with special needs is already above average. In such communities, the distance to alternative schools is an especially acute problem.

Specialists in the education sector emphasize that when making decisions about school closures, the interests of vulnerable student groups should be placed at the centre. If a school closure results in the interruption of support services for children with special needs, it can have lasting negative effects on their development and wellbeing.

The data underscores the need for more comprehensive impact assessments before making decisions on school closures, to ensure all children – regardless of whether they have special needs – have equal access to quality education.