The government is being urged to ensure schools have the necessary funding and that staff are adequately trained to meet the needs of pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) in a report calling for “a full system overhaul”.
The SEND All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has today provided a series of recommendations to ministers to address a system it warns “is not working as it should”.
Funding has increased, but is still insufficient to meet the level of demand for SEND provision, the report warns. As a result, many local authorities are reporting large deficits in their high needs blocks - the part of the education budget designated for SEND.
SEND funding and staffing pressures
It adds that funding pressures have resulted in long waiting lists for services, limited provision in both mainstream and specialist settings and challenges in delivering education, health and care plans (EHCPs) on time.
EHCPs are a legal document outlining the needs of children with SEND and how they will be met.
The report says: “To achieve meaningful change, a full system overhaul is required. This must begin with a redesign of the SEND framework to promote joined-up working and clarity of roles.
“Funding allocations must be based on robust assessments of need and should empower local areas to innovate. Longer-term financial settlements would provide stability and allow for more strategic planning.”
The APPG is also urging the government to address the “workforce crisis” with investment in strategic recruitment and retention to ensure that professionals have the necessary training.
The majority of pupils with SEND do not have an EHCP, but the number of children with plans has significantly increased in recent years.
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the number of pupils with EHCPs has increased by nearly 80 per cent since 2018.
SEND system needs ‘urgent’ reform
Earlier this year, Tes revealed that the government is considering whether EHCPs are the “right vehicle” for SEND reforms, and there are now widespread concerns that government reforms could result in a reduction in children’s legal rights
The APPG report calls on the government to implement a new accountability structure, with independent oversight to monitor the performance of local systems. The group believes this would bolster trust in services “delivering effectively and fairly”.
The report comes as the government is expected to announce a White Paper, including SEND system reforms, later this year.
Olivia Blake, Labour MP and APPG group chair, said: “The SEND system in England is in urgent need of reform. Despite increases in funding, the system remains fragmented and under-resourced, with significant weaknesses in coordination, staffing, accountability and early intervention.”
You can now get the UK’s most-trusted source of education news in a mobile app. Get Tes magazine on iOS and on Android
