SEND pupils encouraged to stay in mainstream schools

The strain on education funding means children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being encouraged to stay in mainstream schools.

Somerset Council has put together a set of proposals to support local mainstream schools in delivering education, health and care plans (EHCP) for children with additional needs.

The authority wants to introduce a universal funding system and make mainstream schools more inclusive, to reduce the cost of providing specialist education.

But one parent criticised the approach saying: "The people making these decisions ... don’t understand neurodiversity."

Currently, specialist schools receive three times the amount of funding than mainstream schools, despite it costing the same to deliver SEND services.

But the system for supporting children with SEND is under pressure, both nationally and in Somerset, with rising costs and existing arrangements not having the desired effect.

Currently forecasting a £230m deficit in its dedicated schools grant by 2029/30, the council has been running a consultation on the proposed changes to help balance its budget.

The plans will be presented to the executive committee for a final decision.

According to Somerset Council, research suggests specialist schools receive "proportionate funding", while mainstream schools are being significantly underfunded.

This can lead to placement breakdowns, behavioural problems, learning setbacks or exclusions for children who might struggle in a mainstream environment.

Therefore, the authority want to introduce a universal scheme where a SEND pupil attracts the same funding whichever school they attend.

It is hoped this would incentivise schools to offer better support and intervene when a child is at risk of exclusion.

However, if this was implemented straight away for all children it would cost around £10.3m, so they plan to phase it in depending on pupils' EHCP needs.

In addition, the council has provided clear guidance on what steps to take when a SEND pupil is struggling at a mainstream school.

This includes resetting at home for a few weeks, before attending small classes at a pupil referral unit, then a special school, and finally transitioning back to a mainstream school.

However, some parents feel the scheme is just "smoke and mirrors", and treats a lack of support for SEND children as a symptom, not the root cause.

Gemma Barrett, from Highbridge, is a mother to three children with specialist needs.

They have spent the last two years being home-schooled after they were left "traumatised" by mainstream education.

“Funding a mainstream school is not going to fix the problem," she said.

"They are too big, too loud, too bright, and there are too many people.

"You’re surrounding them with neurotypical children who they can’t communicate properly with, who they’re misunderstood by, who they don’t fit in with. How is that supposed to help?"

Ms Barrett says instead of adopting universal funding for all schools, the money should go towards building additional specialist schools so that children can "thrive in an environment surrounded by others like them".

"The people making these decisions at the local authority don’t understand neurodiversity," she added.

"As parents we’re saying ‘just listen to us, stop wasting money’."

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