Commenting on the analysis from the National Foundation for Educational Research into the uneven distribution across schools of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The findings of this report highlight what we have known for years which is that some schools actively avoid admissions from SEND students. Where schools are inclusive and have built good practice in supporting SEND students, they are too often finding themselves under attack from Ofsted and battling other accountability measures.
“Government SEND reform and the Schools White Paper need to address admissions inequalities and legislate for a mainstream inclusion model which works for all young people, including those with SEND. It is telling that according to the research findings one feature of the most inclusive schools is an intake of the most disadvantaged cohorts.
“Addressing child poverty and SEND reform must be at the forefront of the Government's financial and educational planning for the future of the next generation”.