Up to 8,587 children and young people with SEND are currently classed as ‘awaiting provision’ for a school place, and have no access to any type of educational provision at all.
Ninety-five per cent of SENCOs told us that they need adequate protected time to carry out their role, which means the government must fund schools properly so that heads can provide it.
The National Education Union will continue to stand in solidarity with SEND Action and fight to ensure that all children with SEND have access to the provision they deserve.
Schools and local authorities have been struggling to plug the gaps in SEND education left by years of cuts and underfunding, but without significant investment many children are unable to access the support they need.
This report makes clear the challenges facing schools and local authorities in their efforts to give the best possible support to SEND pupils. It is plain to anyone working in education that the levels of education funding for SEND pupils are inadequate.
Every school wants to provide the strategies and support which work for each individual SEND pupil, but the real-terms funding crisis has had a devastating impact. We don’t need another review to tell us that children with SEND need quicker assessments.
The National Education Union has found that as of January 2019, up to 8,587 children and young people with SEND are currently classed as ‘awaiting provision’ for a school place, and have no access to any type of educational provision at all. This is significantly higher than previously known.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary NEU comments on “We Need To Talk: Access to Speech and Language Therapy”, a report published today by Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England.
The National Education Union is supporting today’s (Thursday) SEND National Crisis campaign day by joining its call on Government to provide more money for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). More than 25 events are happening nationwide.
Commenting on the call for evidence on SEND funding announced today by Damian Hinds, Rosamund McNeil, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "For too long, children with SEND have been disgracefully let down by this Government".
Commenting on the passing of Motion 23 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The NEU is appalled at the continued off-rolling and illegal exclusion of too many SEND pupils and wants the government to address the underlying pressures which lead schools to take such action.
The results of a snapshot survey* of 1,026 primary and secondary school teachers in England, shows the alarming levels of inadequate and underfunded provision for pupils with SEND.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report Mental health services for children and young people.
The Education Committee report highlights the exclusion of pupils from schools in England - Comment by Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union.
Nick Gibb’s statement on school revenue funding for 2019-2020 will do nothing to alleviate the enormous pressure on school budgets, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union says.
