Issues facing SEND system

An new ITV investigation has found that 80% of parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities say their kids are not getting enough support at school.

Community’s Head of Education Policy Martin Hodge said:

“A year after the previous Government set out its action plan, and children are still being let down. Real-terms school funding is at the lowest it has been for over a decade and local authorities are struggling to process the huge increase in the numbers of pupils with Special Educational Needs and the most vulnerable cannot access special school places due to a dearth of provision.

“The system is spectacularly underfunded. Schools are struggling to meet the needs of their pupils despite the best efforts of teachers and support staff and together with parents are fighting to secure Education And Health Care Plans and the funding needed. But this can take years, all the while the child is not having their needs met.

“We have been calling for a joined-up system with specialist provision, schools and health services properly funded and working together to meet the needs of children. Only with properly funded services can we begin to tackle the backlog and meet the needs of these families.”

You can read more on the ITV investigation here.

Community is the union for education and early years professionals: representing teachers, headteachers, education, school support staff and early years staff. With over fifty years’ experience, we represent members and campaign to improve conditions for education and early years professionals. We are a modern trade union, campaigning for a better working world.

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