SEND provision must be protected

Delegates at UNISON's local government service group conference today cast a stark warning about the future of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, describing a system under severe strain and calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further deterioration. 

Conference heard that the National Audit Office had concluded in 2025 that the SEND system was not financially sustainable, while councils were reportedly finding it cheaper to pay fines than provide support.

The speaker introducing the motion, which called for the union to campaign against any dilution of special needs provision and assessment for children, and for the strongest possible legal protection for them, said:

"I am a teaching assistant (TA) at a primary school and have witnessed the devastating impacts of cuts. Where previously SEND children would work for the one-to-one TA, now at best there will be a TA in the class working with several children with differing needs. SEND shouldn't be seen as separate to the rest of the education system; it should be an integral part of it."

Delegates acknowledged that successive governments have failed to address the deepening SEND crisis, leaving families struggling to access support, placing intolerable pressure on school and local authority staff, and pushing councils toward financial collapse.

Another delegate warned against narratives that sought to place responsibility for the crisis on children and families: "In the context of SEND provision, blaming over-diagnosis is simply another excuse to deny children the support they need. The education system is failing the most vulnerable children in our society."

The motion stated that children and families need 'strong, enforceable legal rights', enforced through education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and argued that any weakening of the legal framework would leave many families without recourse while undoing decades of progress toward inclusive education.

The debate became emotional when another delegate spoke about her personal experiences as a parent: "Conference, I'm tired. I'm tired of hearing, seeing and experiencing funding cuts. I'm tired of explaining to my autistic daughter that her nurture support is changing or stopping. I'm tired of having to tell her to start again and get her hopes up.

"This is possibly one of the most important times for us to stand up and say we will not accept this anymore. I have two autistic children and the support I received from their schools saved my sanity. They gave me strength and helped me with their understanding. The cuts are awful and they have a knock-on effect.

"It's a direct attack on individuals with disabilities."

UNISON members repeatedly returned to a common message: the crisis is not simply about budgets or administration, but about whether children with additional needs receive the support and protections necessary to access education and thrive.