Schools in 'full-blown crisis' as 99 per cent of headteachers warn they receive inadequate funding for children with special educational needs and are unable to keep pupils safe

Pupils with special educational needs are facing a 'full-blown crisis' due to funding cuts, headteachers have warned. 

In a survey of 1,000 school leaders, 99 per cent said the funding they receive for such children is inadequate.

The research, by education union NAHT, also found many have been forced to reduce the number of teaching assistants or the hours they work.

This is despite TAs being vital for the care of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Nearly four in five - 78 per cent - said they needed to reduce spending on TAs in the last three years due to funding pressures.

Meanwhile 84 per cent anticipated they would be forced to do so in the next three years.

Some school leaders shared fears with the union that funding shortages mean they are unable to keep children and staff safe.

School leaders also told the union about the additional pressures caused by schools having to try to fill the gaps left by under-resourced services, including health and social care services.

Ian Kendal, executive headteacher at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust in Essex, said the funding received for pupils with SEND is 'not enough'.

He said: 'There just isn't capacity within special schools in our area, meaning we are supporting even more pupils with complex needs within our mainstream settings.

'We believe in inclusion and are currently doing our best with the limited funds, but, put simply, it is not good enough for the children with the most complex needs - they deserve so much more than we can give them.'

The findings have been published on the second day of the NAHT's annual conference in Newport, Wales.

General Secretary Paul Whiteman said all political parties should pledge 'system-wide investment' needed to tackle the crisis head-on.

He added: 'Schools face a perfect storm of growing demand to support more pupils with special educational needs at the same time as costs have increased massively and are still rising.

'This is a full-blown crisis and bad news for children, families, schools and local authorities.'

A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We are helping to ensure that all children have the chance to reach their potential by increasing funding for children and young people with complex needs to over £10.5billion next year - up 60 per cent in the last five years.

'We are also providing £2.6billion to support the creation of places for children and young people with SEND, more than tripling the previous level of investment, so parents can be reassured that their child will receive the right support at the right time, close to home.

'Combined with the special and AP (Alternative Provision) free schools' programme, this is helping to increase capacity, creating over 60,000 specialist places across the country.'