employ Send coordinators, and could only afford teaching assistants to support a small number of pupils with the greatest needs.“Special needs is beyond crisis in schools, it’s sucking the money from budgets,” she said.
The NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman, said: “The crisis in funding for pupils with special educational needs is clear for all to see and is putting significant pressure on school budgets.”
He said the upcoming Send review should be published as soon as possible, and should pave the way for schools to receive additional funding, rather than simply changing the way the existing budget was allocated between schools, which “will not solve the problem”.
James Bowen, NAHT director of policy, said schools were struggling to afford Send provision because the government failed to underpin the new system with adequate funding. “The increased demand and lack of funding created a huge gap between the provision schools were expected to make and the resources they receive,” he said.
He added: “The government has acknowledged there is a real crisis when it comes to Send funding and a review is under way, but currently we have seen little sign of progress.”
