Almost half of primary schools and special schools (at 49 and 48
per cent) and two-fifths of secondary schools (at 41 per cent) in
England had or were expecting an in-year deficit in 2022/23,
according to a new report.
Schools are only expecting the situation to worsen next year with
just under half of mainstream schools (50 per cent primary and 42
per cent secondary) and two-fifths (39 per cent) of special
schools expecting both to have an in-year deficit and needing to
make cuts to provision in 2023/24.*
Results from NFER’s report, Cost-of-living crisis:
Impact on schools - School Provision, also suggest more
than half of primary schools are asking parents for extra funds
to accommodate cost-of-living pressures.**
In the study, conducted in collaboration with ASK Research and
funded by the Nuffield Foundation, NFER recently asked more than
2,500 senior leaders and teachers in mainstream schools, and more
than 100 in special schools, a series of questions to understand
the impacts of cost-of-living pressures on schools.***
Almost half of school leaders reported that the cuts their
schools are making due to the cost-of-living pressures are having
a negative impact on teaching and learning in their setting.
Further, the cuts which schools are making in response to
cost-of-living pressures are also affecting provision for pupils
with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with
widespread concern among senior leaders of all phases about their
ability to fully meet the needs of their pupils.****
NFER Research Director and report co-author, Jenna Julius, said:
“In the short-term, schools need greater financial support to
help meet the additional direct expenses associated with the
increased cost-of-living such as energy and school meal bills.
“Teachers and senior leaders, particularly in the most
disadvantaged schools, report their learning provision has been
negatively impacted by cuts being made in response to increased
costs. For example, 62 per cent of primary schools, 43 per cent
of secondary and 41 per cent of special schools report cutting
spending on resources such as printed worksheets, materials for
art and science and library books.”
Director of ASK Research, Amy Skipp, said:
“The cuts being made in response to cost-of-living pressures in
special schools are extremely concerning particularly as they
include core parts of the support for pupils with SEND, to
maximise their development, independence and quality of life as
well as providing respite for families. For example, almost
three-tenths (28 per cent) of special schools report cutting
their core specialist school offer, which includes the provision
of hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and independence activities.”
Nuffield Foundation Programme Head, Ruth Maisey said:
“We know that there are lingering effects of the pandemic
including a wider disadvantage gap, increased absence from
school, and poorer mental health and wellbeing. Schools are only
able to tackle these issues if they have sufficient funds. While
failure to adequately support young people risks their issues
becoming entrenched and stores up considerable problems for
future society.”
Other findings and recommendations:
- Only around a fifth of schools have not made cuts to any
areas of their provision in response to the increased
cost-of-living.
- The cuts which schools are making in response to
cost-of-living pressures are affecting provision for pupils with
SEND. While teaching assistants (TA) often play a key role in
supporting pupils with SEND, almost half (47 per cent) of primary
schools, 32 per cent of special schools and 28 per cent of
secondary schools report cutting TA numbers or hours.
- While the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan
already sets out next steps for improving provision for pupils
with additional needs, it should be prioritised and accelerated
to ensure that schools and pupils get access to the urgent help
they require as soon as possible.
This paper is the second in a series of three cost-of-living
reports being published in September. The first focused on the
impact on pupils and families
and the third will be published on September 21 focusing on
school workforce issues resulting from cost-of-living
pressures.
*The overall schools budget is set to increase by a further £3.5
billion for 2023/24 and £1.5 billion in 2024/25. The Department
for Education (DfE) has also announced £482.5 million in 2023/24
and £827.5 million for schools in 2024/25 as part of funding
announced in July 2023. This is expected to be funded from
elsewhere in the DfE budget.
**Over half (58 per cent) of primary schools and around a third
of secondary (29 per cent) and special schools (32 per cent) are
seeking additional parental contributions to accommodate
cost-of-living pressures. This is happening to the greatest
extent in least disadvantaged schools, where parents are most
likely to be able to afford this.
***NFER collected data via an online survey sent to all
state-funded mainstream primary and secondary schools and all
special schools in England in April and May 2023. We received
responses from 1354 senior leaders and 1317 teachers in
mainstream schools as well as 87 senior leaders and 41 teachers
in special schools. Mainstream surveys are weighted to be
nationally representative of schools in England. Special school
surveys are not weighted due to the relatively small response
rate achieved.
****70 per cent of primary, 64 per cent of secondary and 49 per
cent of special senior leaders report not feeling confident that
their school is able to fully meet the needs of all their pupils.
