Number of SEN pupils plummets after abolition of statements‏

A press release:

Research by Bath Spa University revealed  today that the number of children registered as having special educational needs (SEN) is dropping sharply as schools respond to government policy changes and possibly to pressures on their budgets.

Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism explains the need to focus on support rather than numbers:

“The SEN reforms are about supporting young people with autism and other SEN being able to thrive and achieve at school – not about an arbitrary change in the way that we classify SEN. If pressure on budgets is driving schools to reduce the number of children they identify as having SEN that is deeply worrying.

“We know that at least 1 in 100 children have autism and that many are currently not getting the support they need to succeed at school. Our Ruled Out report found that over half of parents of children with autism say they have kept their child out of school for fear that the school is unable to provide appropriate support. This points to an under – rather than over – identification of needs.

“Identification of SEN should be based on an assessment of a child’s needs and nothing else. We mustn’t let the debate about numbers distract us from delivering the best possible additional educational support to the children that need it.”

Same Difference adds: As passionate supporters of inclusive education, we too find this research very worrying. We fear that it means mainstream schools may be rejecting disabled pupils- who despite their disabilities, have much to offer in many areas of the mainstream National Curriculum.

Even more worryingly, this could mean that children with disabilities and SEN in mainstream schools are not being provided with the statements they need, and that as a direct result, they are not being provided with appropriate support at school.