Commenting on the NFER’s report on the work of multi-academy trusts in supporting pupils with SEND, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:

“Many of the conclusions reached by this report echo what we hear from members, namely that inadequate funding and excessive workload are hampering the ability of teachers and schools to support the increasing number of pupils with SEND.

“The government has completely failed to provide adequate numbers of special school places and specialist services to work with pupils.

“Schools cannot meet these challenges alone.

“Too often provision and resourcing remain something of a postcode lottery, exacerbated by the government’s cuts to council budgets.

“The next government must get to grips with a system of SEND support which is currently failing too many pupils, parents and schools.”