Commenting on new findings from the Education Policy Institue about the attainment gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“All children deserve an education which supports them to fulfil their potential. The EPI’s report shows that, sadly, not all pupils are getting this support. Disparities in outcomes between disadvantaged pupils and their peers continue to widen, worsened by an inadequate pandemic recovery plan. For 11- and 16-year-olds, the gaps are at their widest in over a decade.
“It is no surprise to us that the attainment gap for SEND students in the early years is widening as the waiting times for specialist support increase, testing pressures for younger children remain and cuts to school budgets are leading to the loss of support staff from early years and infant classes.
“Worsening educational inequalities reflect worsening issues of equality more broadly, as 4.3 million children live in poverty. While 9 children in an average class of 30 grow up in poverty, any work to address attainment gaps will be undermined.
“The NEU supports the EPI’s recommendations. In particular, we call on the new government to recognise the urgency of the growing crises of child poverty and insufficient SEND support, and act accordingly to prevent these gaps from widening further.”