Lack of funding for special needs pupils is causing 'growing gap' in outcomes, London councils warn

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are facing growing challenges due to inadequate funding for schools, which compromises necessary specialist support.

The report emphasizes that the increasing number of SEND pupils, now over 17 percent, coincides with constrained local authority finances that hinder supportive environments in schools.

With a sharp increase in demand for special school places, from 13,700 to 21,200, schools are operating beyond their intended capacities, straining available resources.

Government reforms to address SEND support constraints will take time, as they navigate the blame from the previous administration, further impacting families reliant on the system.

Read at www.standard.co.uk