Commenting on the Government earmarking £740m to create more
specialist places in mainstream schools, Daniel Kebede,
General Secretary of the National Education Union,
said:
“The swift response from government to the worrying findings of
the NAO Inquiry into SEND is welcome and a reflection of how
seriously they are taking the current SEND crisis.
“£740m is a good starting point for helping schools to create
more inclusive environments. Further investment will be needed,
however, in staffing, pastoral teams and access to SEND and
mental health specialists alongside the repositioning of
curriculum and assessment.
“We know that there are more young people with Autism and ADHD in
schools whose needs are not being met so the Neurodivergence Task
and Finish group is welcomed, but its investigations must include
the voices and experiences of classroom practitioners themselves
in order to make the difference that is so vitally needed.
"The NEU also welcomes the pause in entering new Safety Valve
agreements. Safety Valve was a sticking plaster. A quarter of
local authorities being in Safety Valve is a sign of a broken
system. The Budget promised £865m in 2025-26 to reduce local
authority SEND deficits in 2025-26. This is a welcome recognition
of reality but what is really needed is a recasting of the system
to prioritise early intervention.”
