Schools struggling to support children with special education needs and disabilities

Mainstream schools in England find it difficult to support children with special needs and disabilities, according to a new report.

Headteachers have said that town hall cuts and delays to assessments made it hard for schools to cope with the 1.1 million pupils in question.

The BBC said a survey of 1,100 school leaders found they were also concerned by changes to the curriculum becoming less inclusive for children with special education needs or disabilities (SEND).

Statistics released last year show that 15% of children (1.3 million) have Send and that 1.1 million are in mainstream schools.

The report by The Key, which provides schools with management support, suggested that 82% of these schools do not have sufficient funding to provide adequately for them.

Three quarters of schools have pupils who have waited longer than expected for an assessment or care plan and 88% of school leaders think teacher training does not adequately prepare new teachers to support children with Send.

One teacher said: “The direction the curriculum is taking is also becoming less and less inclusive for these children, meaning schools need to look at alternative interventions which cost money and teacher time.”

The report called for increased funding.

The Department for Education told the BBC more money was being supplied for pupils with “high needs”.

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