Schools face ‘demanding’ parents over Send system

PARENTS of children with special educational needs and disabilities are becoming more “demanding” of school staff due to increased need and limited resources, a report has suggested.

Schools and academy trusts are facing “significant challenges” around special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).

The research, which interviewed multi-academy trust (Mat) chief executives, school special educational needs coordinators (Sencos) and Mat Send leaders, suggested that some academy trusts are worried about “litigation” as they have been unable to meet parents’ expectations due to a lack of support.

It said: “Sencos reported that the parents of pupils with Send were increasingly demanding more from them, driven by the increased level of need and (in some cases) worsening LA [local authority] provision.” Schools were coming under increased pressure with Send staffing, navigating relationships with parents, accessing external support and dealing with “inconsistencies” between local authorities.

The study, which interviewed staff in 19 Mats in England between November 2023 and January 2024, said: “The growing complexity of pupils’ needs has strained resources and placed pressure on mainstream schools due to a lack of special school places.” Sencos reported experiencing a “notable rise” in the number of pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which help pupils with Send access support in school – but they said there had been no corresponding increase in resources.

A Local Government Association (LGA) spokesperson said: “Placing children and young people at the centre of the Send system was right, but the reforms were not supported by sufficient powers or funding.”