Nursery World - SEND funding shortfall in schools of £1.2bn, union claims

Funding for children with special educational needs has failed to keep pace with the rise in demand for provision, according to the National Education Union.

Analysis carried out by the teachers’ union found that spending in nearly all councils in England (93 per cent) has not kept pace with the increase in the number of children with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), which has risen by a third (33 per cent) since 2015.

The number of children and young people with an EHCP has risen from 240,000 in 2015 to 320,00 in 2018-19.

The NEU says that the funding shortfall across England is £1.22 bn.

The union calculated the total cash shortfall in high needs funding since 2015, based on 2018/19 prices, by comparing per-pupil SEND funding in local authorities in England in 2018-19 with 2015 figures.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included