Commenting on the latest special educational needs (SEN) statistics 2021/22, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, shares this latest news. Ed
Latest statistics show yet another unprecedented rise in pupils needing SEN support. The percentage of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) nationally is 4 per cent (up from 3.7 per cent the previous year), as is those, who have no EHCP, but receive SEN support. Now at 12.6 per cent (up from 12.2 per cent).
IW has higher than average figures
The Isle of Wight already has higher than average figures and increases when compared with the south east and nationally.
Island figures have risen again showing 5.4 per cent of pupils with an ECHP up from 5 per cent. That is 74 more children with an ECHP taking the total Island number to 968.
Rise of 242 children in last year
Those receiving SEN support now stands at 15 per cent up from 13.6 per cent last year. This SEN need equates to 2,669 – a rise of 242 Island children requiring schools to provide much needed additional support from their often-overstretched budgets. Just as troubling is the significant and worrying historical rise every year since 2018/19.
Statistics, however, do not tell the full story. How many children are actually in need and are on the edge of adding to these challenging statistics, but receive no extra funding?
Findings from Education Policy Institute
Last year Education Policy Institute (EPI) research indicated:
- many vulnerable pupils are likely to be SEND “under-identified”.
- a “rationing of support” in areas with the greatest need.
- “academy schools are associated with depressed chances of being identified with SEND.”
- “which primary school a child attends makes more difference to their chances of being identified with SEND.”
Fragmentation of local authority led schools
A lack of funding and austerity are detrimental factors, which need addressing by national government. But so too the unfilled pupil places in schools and the fragmentation of local authority led schools, decreasing their ability to provide educational services to the whole Island population.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We need to be combining our educational efforts as a whole island (and country). We need to be doing much more to support these most vulnerable young people.
Image: Katerina Holmes under CC BY 2.0
