More inclusive institutions under pressure as some take on six times as many children requiring extra support
Schools in England are steering away children with special needs, leading some to have six times as many pupils requiring learning or behaviour support compared with others, according to research.
Local authority leaders told the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) they knew of schools that were “happy” to see others take children requiring extra support detailed by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), including headteachers who feared the impact on exam results of enrolling children with special needs.
The findings highlight the pressure the government faces as it prepares its schools white paper to urgently overhaul special needs provision and funding.
One council leader said the more inclusive schools became “victims of their own success” by attracting larger numbers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), overwhelming resources.
