New survey reveals early years SEND provision at “breaking point”
By Rachel Lawler
The published today has revealed “ambitious plans” aiming to “transform outcomes for children and young people”.
The Paper, which is the result of the SEND Review, says that the government aims to create a “single, national SEND and alternative provision system” to introduce new standards in the quality of support given to children.
The Paper also says the government will introduce a simplified EHCP, a new legal requirement for councils to create “local inclusion plans”, bringing together the early years, schools and post-16 education and a new framework for banding and tariffs of High Needs.
New training plans will also see an increased number of early years staff have an accredited Level 3 qualification in settings.
The paper also outlines ambitions to change the “culture and practice” in mainstream education to be more inclusive and a “reformed and integrated role” for alternative provision.
The plans will be the subject of a 13-week public consultation, offering families frustrated by the current system a chance to share their feedback.
"End the postcode lottery"
Nadhim Zahawi, education secretary, commented: “Every child has the right to excellent education - particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities, who often need the most support.
“We are launching this consultation because too often this isn’t the case. We want to end the postcode lottery of uncertainty and poor accountability that exists for too many families, boost confidence in the system across the board and increase local mainstream and specialist education to give parents better choice.
“I want to make sure everyone knows what to expect, when to expect it and where the support should come from. I know there are strongly held views and I want to hear from as many parents, teachers and children with experience of the system so they can help shape a future policy that works for them.”
Alliance survey findings
A new Alliance report, also released today, revealed that four in 10 early years providers offering care to children with SEND do not receive any additional funding specifically to support SEND provision.
The Alliance surveyed 1,331 early years settings between January and February 2022 about SEND provision. Of the providers that did receive funding for SEND, nine in 10 say that it, alongside their general funding rate, is not sufficient to provide the quality of care for children with SEND.
More than nine in 10 survey respondents said that they have had to fund additional support for children with SEND out of their own pocket. 56% of the providers that received funding said that they had experienced delays in receiving funds.
The results show increasing pressure on an already struggling sector, with 74% of respondents reporting an increase in the number of children with formally-identified SEND at their setting in the past two years.
82% of the survey respondents said that there had been an increase in the number of children who they felt may have SEND that has not yet been formally identified.
Provider perspective
Vanessa Linehan, manager, Sandbrook Community Playgroup in Stoke Newington, Hackney, commented: "Often children start at an early years setting without any diagnosis of SEND; sometimes their parents haven't even realised that their child may have additional needs.
“That means that it's the setting that has to take on the full responsibility of supporting the child, and their family, without any funding in place. It's an impossible situation. We want to be able to take children with SEND but we know that we aren't able to give them the help and support they need because we simply can't afford to do so. Children with SEND deserve better."
Inadequate funding
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, commented: “We know that early years funding rates are wholly insufficient and have been for many years now. Add to this inadequate funding to support SEND provision, and you have a recipe for disaster.
“Children deserve better, their parents deserve better and the sector deserves better. The government has set out an ambitious vision for SEND, but for this to have a genuine, tangible impact on children and families, it simply has to include a greater focus on the early years and early intervention. As such, we urge ministers to make our vital sector a priority, and to commit to investing what is needed into SEND provision, and the early years more broadly, as a matter of urgency.”
You can read the full Alliance report, Too Little, Too Late, here.
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