Funding prevents SEND inclusion in schools – report

London – Jasour – News Desk

“Seriously stretched” funding and “insufficient” staffing are preventing London’s mainstream schools from being inclusive to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), according to a new report. Alongside more “sustainable” cash to help schools offer inclusive education – where pupils with and without SEND are educated in the same classroom – the report, commissioned by London Councils, also called on the government to increase support for specialist teachers.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “The reform families are crying out for will take time, but with a greater focus on mainstream provision and more early intervention, we will deliver the change that is so desperately needed.” Wednesday’s Budget allocated £1bn for SEND, out of a £2.3bn overall increase in core spending on schools. But the majority of the additional funding for the next financial year is expected to be used to reduce deficits by councils.

Only 1% of school senior leaders believe they have enough funding to meet the needs of their SEND pupils, according to the Inclusion in London Schools report. The report concluded: “It is clear that London faces several key challenges, which present barriers to the effective inclusion of children and young people with SEND within their schools. “These include a rapidly growing SEND cohort, seriously stretched funding, an insufficient workforce, and increasing gaps in outcomes between pupils with SEND and their peers.”