Commenting on the Local Government
Association (LGA)’s latest research on demand for special
educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support,
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General
Secretary of the National Education
Union, said:
"The LGA's call for the scrapping of
High Needs deficits and a boost for inclusion in mainstream is
the correct one but a more fundamental change in attitudes and
approach across the education system is
needed.
"The value of an EHCP has been cut by
29% in real terms since 2015-16, creating a funding gap of
£3.6bn. Funding pressures in schools in general are leading to
reduced not increased inclusion in mainstream schools. The
loss of experienced and qualified teaching assistants and
learning support assistants working with students in class means
that many SEND students have little or no additional class
support in mainstream settings, which leads to increased EHCP
applications. The Green Paper fails to recognise the value of
this support and includes just one paragraph about support
staff.
"Delays in accessing support and
diagnosis from specialist professionals such as educational
psychologists, speech and language therapist and CAMHS leave many
SEND students without the support they need in mainstream
schools. In addition, pressures for all students to do SATs
and GCSEs, along with an inflexible and overpacked curriculum,
when for many these are inappropriate, lead to increased school
anxiety, disaffection and increased applications for
EHCPs."
