Headteachers warn of biggest crisis facing UK schools as kids badly let down

Four in five school leaders have pupils in mainstream classes who should have specialist teaching - but can't because there aren't enough places.

A poll for the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) found 80% of respondents said there were pupils in their school with specialist provision agreements - but forced to stay in mainstream classes. And an overwhelming majority, 94%, said meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is harder than this time last year.

Delegates at the unions conference in Harrogate will today demand more funding and specialist staff. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: "There is no higher priority now in education than fixing the SEND crisis.

“Right now, too many schools have children who should be getting specialist support who are being let down by the lack of capacity and availability of places in the specialist sector. "

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He added that school leaders are frustrated, stating: "Schools are desperately trying to do their best for those pupils but without access to the specialist help they need their hands are tied."

In a speech to the conference, Angi Gibson, who takes over as the union's president from September, will warn school budgets are stretched "to breaking point".

She is expected to say: “Let’s not pretend everything’s fine. Across the UK, education is under pressure like never before.

"We face a recruitment and retention crisis. Budgets are stretched to breaking point. The accountability system is broken. Mental health needs are escalating. And too many of our school buildings are quite simply not fit for purpose.

“That’s why this presidency won’t be about nice words or photo ops. It will be about action. Because our profession deserves better. Our staff deserve better. And our children – all of our children – deserve the very best.”

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