There is a crisis in supporting children with SEND. The funding that schools receive is simply inadequate to meet the increasing levels of need, says Paul Whiteman

Last month, hundreds of school leaders, teachers, health and education experts, psychologists, parents and carers gathered in London at two conferences organised by the NAHT and dedicated to SEND.

Sadly, the picture facing schools is bleak. Not only are school budgets at breaking point, there have been severe cuts to health and social care provision. Schools are being let down on two fronts and are struggling to meet children’s needs.

The NAHT’s report Empty promises revealed that 94 per cent of schools are finding it harder to resource the support required to meet the needs of pupils with SEND than they did two years ago. Cuts to mainstream school funding have resulted in a reduction in school staff, with teaching assistants and pastoral staff especially hard hit. These are the people most involved in supporting children with SEND.

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