Commenting on the report of the House of Commons Education
Committee on support for young people with special educational
needs and disabilities, Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at
the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“This report lays bare the fact that the government pulled the
rug from under its own laudable plan to improve support for young
people who have special educational needs by failing to fund
properly the public services responsible for delivering the
system.
“As a result we have under-funded schools and colleges
desperately trying to secure Education, Health and Care plans for
vulnerable pupils with variable levels of help from local
authorities and health services, while under the cosh of
performance tables which effectively penalise them for having
vulnerable intakes. It is hard to imagine a more muddled system.
The government’s recent announcement of an extra £780m for high
needs funding is a step in the right direction but it is only
about half of what is needed.
“We note the Education Committee’s recommendations for a greater
focus on SEND in school inspections and powers for the Local
Government and Social Care Ombudsman to investigate complaints
about schools, and we naturally recognise the vital importance
that SEND provision is delivered to the highest possible
standard.
“However, this crisis cannot be solved by the big stick of more
oversight when what is needed is sufficient resources and
joined-up education, health and social services which ensure the
needs of these young people are met swiftly and in full.”
