Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from poorer families are being left behind, a report into England’s education system warns.
The Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity, said they are battling both their additional needs and a system stacked against those without money or influence.
More than 1.7 million children in England have been identified with SEND, an increase of 5.6% in the past year.
And children from low-income households are over-represented in the system.
Among those with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, a legally binding document outlining tailored support, 43.8% are eligible for free school meals, compared with 25.7% nationally.
Yet wealthier parents are far more likely to secure an EHC for their child.
The Sutton Trust report stated 41% of middle class parents of a child with SEND secured a special school place, compared with only 25% of working class parents of a SEND child.
‘Arduous process’
One mother, Tiya Currie, described the emotional and financial toll of trying to secure support for her young son.
“We faced constant dismissal and neglect from professionals in both healthcare and education,” she told Sky News.
“I ultimately had to seek private help to get a diagnosis. After spending almost £20,000, in addition to the loss of income and two years of my life, we won our tribunal case.
“My son, Arun, was then placed in a mainstream school with a DLD (developmental language disorder) specialist resource unit.
“I left my career, deferred his school entry, and funded private speech and language therapy while navigating the arduous EHC process.”
Her story is echoed by hundreds of parents surveyed for the Sutton Trust, who described a complex and unequal system that favours those with time, money, and confidence.
The report found 65% of working class parents spent nothing on their EHC applications, while 11% of middle class parents spent more than £5,000 on private assessments, consultants and legal advice.
Those with resources are also more likely to win appeals and secure special school placements.
‘Huge emotional and financial cost’
Ms Ali, a parent of a child with SEND, told Sky News: “We were left with no choice, after what felt like a battle of egos, but to go to tribunal.
“The process came at a huge emotional and financial cost with legal fees and specialist reports exceeding £10,000 just to secure the support my son was legally entitled to.”
The research also shows children with SEND who are eligible for free school meals consistently achieve lower exam results. Only 7.5% of those with EHC plans secured a grade 4 or higher in English and maths last year, compared with 17.3% of their more affluent peers with the same support.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, said the findings expose a system “that was meant to level the playing field but is now widening it”.
“Families with fewer resources are being left to fight an impossible battle,” he said. “SEND support should not depend on a parent’s income.”
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The Trust is calling for urgent reform, including simpler EHC applications, shorter wait times for diagnosis, and more consistent identification of SEND across schools and local authorities.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said “chronic underfunding” had “exacerbated existing inequalities”.
He added: “It is especially unfair that children with SEND from low-income families face this double whammy of disadvantage.”
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What’s the government doing about it?
The minister for school standards, Georgia Gould MP, said the report highlights “the stark inequalities and poor outcomes facing SEND families, under the system this government inherited”.
“We’re committed to cementing a system that delivers for all families and not just the lucky few, which is why we’re engaging with children and parents from a range of backgrounds as we develop plans to ensure all children get the outcomes and life chances they deserve,” she added.
She cited improved teacher training, £740m for additional specialist school places, and earlier intervention for speech and language needs.
The charity’s report surveyed 4,008 parents, 1,273 of whom had a child with SEND.
