The UK government has revealed a £740m funding plan to improve support for students with special educational requirements and disabilities (Send) in mainstream schools in England. This project, which aims to make school infrastructure more accessible, is part of the £6.7bn in education funding stated in the 2016 Budget.
The Education Secretary emphasized the need for this money: “We want to ensure we have the proper expert provision in place. Funding is only one aspect; another is systematic reform, which will take time to perfect.
Why Do Parents No longer Believe in the System?
In October, the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted that parents had “lost faith in a Send system in urgent need of reform.” Analysis showing that the number of Send students in mainstream education has increased by a third since the 2015–16 academic year fuels growing frustration.
The Education Secretary noted these difficulties and said, “I hear parents’ frustration. The solution is more than stuffing more money into the System without change. To guarantee we get this properly, large-scale transformation is necessary.
What Difficulties Do Schools Like Brighouse High-Faced?
Headteacher Richard Horsfield of Brighouse High School in West Yorkshire talked frankly about the challenges of helping Send students. Though the school is dedicated to inclusive education, more resources must be available.
“We spent £10,000 over the summer on adaptations, including accessible bathrooms and handrails,” Horsfield added. “That seriously damaged our finances, yet our lift is still broken. Correcting it would cost £250,000, and we cannot afford it.
Therefore, a wheelchair-using student must negotiate outside and across parking lots to reach some classrooms. Horsfield said the condition was intolerable, saying, “On wet December mornings, it’s just not good enough.”
How Do These Difficulties Affect Students?
Brighouse High School nevertheless provides essential help despite these obstacles. Pupil Charlie said: “I can’t concentrate at all by myself. The Send services have allowed me to attend school. I would fantasize, accomplish nothing, and often be told off.
Fellow student Freya underlined the need for a caring environment: “Sometimes I don’t want to be around many people. It helps me cool off; I have a lot of trustworthy, encouraging professors here.
Why are services and staff so stretched?
The school’s workforce of learning support aids has almost decreased in recent years, restricting the degree of assistance provided for students with extra needs. Additionally, expert counseling services are less accessible.
“A lack of funding and resources is restricting us,” Horsfield said. “We should be helped to provide for these children at the level they deserve.”
Still, the school provides specialized seminars to complement academic education and handle social, emotional, and psychological issues. Horsfield firmly feels that, given enough tools, most Send students excel in regular classrooms.
“They blossom with the correct support,” he remarked. “We should be helped to perform at the level we desire.”
What Inclusion Plans Does the Government Have Ahead?
The administration once more underlined its will to send students to universities nearer their homes. According to this approach, using SEN units in regular classrooms will help provide more focused expert support.
“We have seen schools that have done outstanding work to produce inclusive provision,” the Education Secretary remarked. “We have to change since they lacked government support to carry out this kind of action.”
Will the necessary funding drive reform?
Although the £740m financing is viewed as a positive start, the Education Secretary underlined that significant reforms are required to solve long-standing problems in the Send system. “I know it’s frustrating,” she added, “but it’s so important we get it right.”
The temptation to match immediate needs with institutional change remains challenging as schools worldwide need help offering inclusive education. Schools like Brighouse High expect government support to complement their goal of enabling every student to fulfill their potential.
