Special needs education in England has lost out on £1.2 billion since 2015 because of shortfalls in funding increases, a teaching union has said.
The National Education Union (NEU) suggests special educational needs and disabilities (Send) funding to local authorities from central government has failed to keep up with the rising demand for provision.
The number of children and young people granted an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) has risen from 240,000 to 320,000 since 2015 – an increase of 33%.
An EHCP is a document stating a child’s legal entitlement to funding for further support for severe and complex educational needs.
However, funding has increased by 6% over the same period, from £5.6 billion to £6 billion in today’s prices, the union suggests.
It argues that one reason for the increase in demand is the extension of EHCP provision to young people with additional needs aged 19 to 25.
The analysis is released by the NEU ahead of its annual conference in Liverpool, which starts on Monday.
Kevin Courtney, of the NEU, said: “The funding shortfall for Send provision comes against the backdrop of the swingeing cuts to local authority budgets imposed by the Westminster government over the last nine years which have left many councils on the brink.
“Between 2010 and 2020, councils will have lost almost 60p out of every £1 the government had provided for services.
“This is an appalling way to be addressing the education of some of our most vulnerable children and young people and is causing untold misery and worry for thousands of families.”
But the minister for children and families, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “We have increased spending on high needs from £5 billion in 2013 to £6.3 billion this year, and it is not right to imply funding has been cut.
“We recognise the challenges facing local authorities and in December provided an extra £250 million up to 2020 to help them manage high needs cost pressures.
“We have also provided councils with an extra £100 million funding to create more Send places in mainstream schools, colleges and special schools.
“Our ambition for children with special educational needs and disabilities is exactly the same for every other child – to achieve well in education, go on to college or university, and to live happy and fulfilled lives.”