Ms Anne Tansey:

The 10th percentile is well recognised internationally as a cut-off point under which children present with moderate to severe difficulties and it is a figure used to identify children with such difficulties. If a child is performing at the 50th percentile, it means the child is performing as well as about 50% of his or her peers. If a child is performing at the 10th percentile, the child is performing as well as only 10%, or less, of his or her peers.