New Report On "Financially Unsustainable" Special Educational Needs System Is "Watershed Moment"
3 min read
A new report setting out the severe pressures facing the special educational needs system (SEND) ought to be a “watershed moment” for Westminster, a former children’s commissioner has warned.
Anne Longfield, the former children’s commissioner and current Chair of the Commission on Young Lives, told PoliticsHome that the seriousness of the findings published by the National Audit Office (NAO) on Thursday should not be underestimated.
The NAO report describes the SEND system, which is designed to provide education to children with disabilities and special needs, as “financially unsustainable”. It warns that while the Department for Education (DfE) has previously committed to improving the system, “there is no evidence [current measures] will fully address the challenges”.
It also criticises steps taken to alleviate the immediate financial pressures on local authorities that deliver the services, such as through the Delivering Better Value programme, warning these “will not provide a sustainable system”.
The report concludes that factors causing a sharp rise in demand for SEND “can be hard to quantify which inhibits DfE’s ability to focus on addressing root causes, many of which extend beyond its remit”.
The report also calls for the DfE to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to ensure local authorities can maintain "sustainable" financial positions in the next few years while meeting SEND demand.
Speaking to PoliticsHome, Longfield said: “It is a watershed moment because the Government’s watchdog puts down the definite position on where we are in terms of SEND.
“Every local authority that faces the prospect of financial unsustainability also faces the prospect of not being able to offer [wider] support for children that is needed…
"There’s no doubt some of these choices will limit opportunity for children and also limit safeguarding around children,” she said.
SEND has been an increasing talking point in Westminster in recent years with MPs like Labour's Rachael Maskell reporting growing concern among constituents.
The MP for York Central told PoliticsHome the current SEND strategy is "not working”.
“We are seeing an exponential growth in my city [York] of children with SEND and I’ve met with paediatricians and they’re showing the figures and our services are just not ready to accept them," she said, describing the challenge as a "major piece of work".
Labour MP Mark Sewards, who sits on the newly-elected Education Committee, described the system as "at breaking point" and said he was “acutely aware” of the challenges being faced by affected families.
The MP for Leeds South West and Morley said he was in a favour of a “community-wide approach to improve inclusivity in mainstream schools”, adding that it was also important to ensure special schools “cater to those with the most complex needs”.
Committee Chair Helen Hayes told PoliticsHome the committee will be “ready” to investigate any reforms to the SEND system the Government looks to introduce.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the report out today "exposes a system that has been neglected to the point of crisis, with children and families with SEND quite simply being failed on every measure."
Phillipson added she is "determined to rebuild families’ confidence in a system so many rely on".
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