Commenting on Breaking Down the Gap, a new report from the Education Policy Institute, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"It is a tragedy that children living in poverty and those with SEND are least likely to be thriving in school. The links highlighted in this report between poverty, attendance and attainment will come as no surprise to our members. We welcome the Government’s commitments to improving attendance and reducing the attainment gap. However, this will only be possible if it addresses the fundamental issues of child poverty and SEND as well as curriculum, assessment and accountability reform, and significantly increase school funding.
"Child poverty and inadequate specialist support present compounding barriers to children accessing education. Our members describe how families are struggling to afford adequate clothing and transport. In recent polling only 4 per cent of teachers told us they have access to sufficient CAMHS support. Meanwhile, wait times for specialist input are increasing. As families struggle to make ends meet, and children’s needs are not being met, their education is bound to suffer.
"If the Government is serious about improving outcomes and reducing inequalities, it must invest in the next generation. It is time to reconsider the two-child limit and benefit cap and expand specialist support services."