Many special needs children given tailored help in state primary schools do not benefit from it, according to a London School of Economics study.

The paper queries the effectiveness of the government’s Every Child Matters policy, aimed at making all children succeed regardless of background. It might also worry parents of pupils with special educational needs (Sen). Getting the most out of Sen children is important for the long-term future of England’s labour force, since employers complain that many workers lack the basic skills needed for all but the lowest-grade jobs. Official figures suggest that 5.2m adults struggle with reading and writing.