Parents of children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have lost trust in a system that falls short consistently, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The report highlights that despite the spending on special education going up 58% in the last decade, amounting to £10.7bn, the system is struggling financially and requires urgent reforms. The NAO study points out that there are around 1.7 million children in England with SEND. The government is trying to address the situation, but “the steps taken so far will not meet the significant challenges faced by the system”, stated report lead Emma Wilson.
The report argues that the Department for Education is not aware of how many spaces it needs in the future in mainstream schools or other Send settings for children, and that forty percent of councils could declare bankruptcy by March 2026 as a result of overspending on their budget for high-needs. The NAO advised the government to consider system reforms.
Claire Dyson explained that she waited for almost 10 years for Dylan, her son, to receive an autism diagnosis. When he was two and a half, she knew that he was autistic, but he was only diagnosed years later. Even after the diagnosis, Dyson found that there was very little help. Dylan struggled in school, but his requirements did not necessitate a special-needs environment. “It’s an emotional and mental battle – but you have to smile through it and get through it, as you’ve got this little person there that needs you to fight,” Mrs Dyson says. Nowadays, Dylan is schooled at home due to special needs requirements.
The NAO is also urging for an inclusive education system to be built. The report also states that there are currently no available spots at specialist schools, and many special schools around the country are occupied. The report warns that, without proper investment, “things will get even worse and the system may face complete collapse”, adds Paul Whiteman, the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary. Meanwhile, the Councils are requesting the government to concentrate on additional Send funding and write off high-needs deficits at next week’s Schedule. The head teacher unions are calling for the government to decide whether to prolong requisite deals that separate the deficits from overall council budgets in order to prevent local authorities from declaring bankruptcy.
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