Supporting Every Learner: Improving SEND Provision in Schools
Nuffield Foundation
An independent charitable trust: we fund research that changes people’s lives
Supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is vital to ensuring equitable education for all. Yet, the rising demand and systemic challenges in the SEND system threaten to leave many behind. As part of our #BackToSchool series, we explore the research on SEND provision.
The number of pupils with Special Educational Needs is rising, with Government data reporting over 1.6 million SEND pupils in England.
The number of pupils with Education Health & Care Plans (EHCP) increased by over 60% from 220,000 in 2015 to 360,000 in 2022.
Source: Institute For Fiscal Studies report | School spending in England: a guide to the debate during the 2024 general election
Where a child attends primary school can impact whether they're identified as having #SEND.
Education Policy Institute describe a 'postcode lottery' effect, with stark disparities in EHCP and SEND support rates across schools, leading to inconsistent support.
In addition, pupils with SEND are clustered in certain schools. For example, @FFTEduData lab showed that in 2022, while 276 mainstream schools in England had no 11 yr old pupils at all with an EHCP, 400 schools had at least double the national rate of 2.5%.
Source: FFT Education Datalab | How well do secondary schools’ intakes of pupils with EHC plans reflect the areas in which they are located?
A disproportionately high number of SEND pupils adds to the budgetary and accountability pressures faced by schools. They must fund the first ￡6,000 of support per pupil from core budgets, with leaders feeling they have not got sufficient budget to meet the needs of SEND pupils.
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Source: National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report | Cost-of-living crisis: Impact on schools
Recruitment challenges add to the strain.
NFER data shows the vast majority of schools are having difficulty recruiting TAs and support staff, which will inevitably impact SEND pupils who often require more intensive support and targeted interventions.
Source: National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report | Cost of living crisis: Impact on schools
A difficult fiscal environment not only limits schools’ #SEND provision, it hampers external support too. Further NFER data shows a high proportion of teachers either cannot access or do not feel supported by external agencies, further exacerbating challenges faced by SEND pupils.
Source: National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report | Cost of living crisis: Impact on schools
Join us on Sept 19th at IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society for the report launch of a #NuffieldFunded project on interventions for SEND pupils . Register now to learn about the latest research on improving educational outcomes for children with SEND:
Interested in other issues facing schools? Check out our #BackToSchool research articles: