Inclusion First: London Councils’ Recommendations for SEND
Ensuring inclusion in London’s schools is critical to the education system’s success, especially as the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) continues to rise, according to a new report from London Councils. Commissioned from Mime Consulting, the report highlights the growing proportion of SEND pupils in the capital, now making up over 17% of the student population, a 3% increase since 2016. In some boroughs, a fifth of pupils have SEND, underlining the increasing demand for inclusive education.
Inclusion means educating students with and without special educational needs together in the same classroom while meeting the individual needs of all pupils. The report emphasises the benefits of inclusive education, including improved attendance and emotional well-being for SEND students, who feel more integrated and less isolated. In the long term, this approach enhances employment prospects for young people with SEND and fosters better social integration. It also helps reduce financial pressures on families, as children can remain in mainstream schools, avoiding the need for costly specialist provision. Importantly, it tackles prejudice by encouraging positive interactions between SEND and non-SEND pupils.
However, the report identifies significant barriers to achieving full inclusion in London’s schools. The main challenge is insufficient funding, with many local authorities struggling to meet their statutory duties to support SEND pupils. Only 1% of senior school leaders believe they have enough resources to meet SEND needs. This funding shortfall has led to a reliance on third-party agency teaching assistants, which has surged by 245% over the past decade.
Moreover, while SEND pupils in London achieve better outcomes than the national average, a growing gap exists between them and their peers without SEND. This is particularly evident in higher rates of exclusion, absenteeism, and school withdrawals among SEND students. Additionally, the report highlights the disproportionate suspension rates for black pupils with SEND.
London Councils has called for more support for SEND specialist teachers and professionalisation of teaching assistant roles. The report also stresses the need for greater funding, a revised framework for performance measures, and increased collaboration between schools, local authorities, the NHS, and parents to create a more inclusive education system.
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