Education system failing families

Special needs pupils being shut out from the extra help they require

- CATHERINE ANDREWS

IN spring 2024, the number of children absent from English mainstream or specialist schools rose to 7.2 per cent, up from under five per cent pre-pandemic. Contributing factors include increased anxiety and disengagement, along with a rising number of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) whose needs are unmet.

An Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) is often the only way to ensure children receive the necessary support. These plans are legally binding and last until the child turns 25. By June 2024, the statistics for SEND in English schools were:

• 1.67 million children (18.4 per cent) had SEND, up from 17.3 per cent in 2023

• 434,354 had an EHCP (4.8 per cent), up from 4.3 per cent in 2023

• 1.24 million children (13.6 per cent) were on SEND support without an EHCP, up from 13 per cent in 2023

The December 2024 Institute for Fiscal Studies report highlights that the rise in EHCPs has largely been driven by increases in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social, emotional, and mental health needs (including ADHD), and speech, language, and communication difficulties. These trends are seen globally in high-income countries.

Several factors contribute to this rise:

• Long waiting times for mental health services in England

• Increased anxiety among children post-pandemic

• Schools' insufficient budgets to meet SEND needs without EHCP funding

• Lack of specialised expertise in schools

• Pressure on children to meet academic standards

• Family financial difficulties

• Negative effects of social media on mental health

• Global issues like political instability and climate concerns