Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s schools funding package announced in the spending review will amount to an extra £4.7bn a year by 2028/29 according to the Treasury, which works out as an average annual real-terms per pupil rise of 1.1 per cent.
Rachael McNamara, who lives in West Sussex, is a Special Educational Needs co-ordinator and a member of the senior leadership team at a primary school. The mum of two says schools across the country are “almost running on empty” and that many are relying on the fundraising by PTAs to survive.
“But they still have to pay the teachers and all their outgoings, so it is a very difficult situation.
square EDUCATION Reeves's 'tight' school funding could force staff cuts and hit children with SEND
Read More
“Without PTAs, a lot of schools wouldn’t be able to manage.”
Latest figures show that there are over 1.7 million pupils in England who have special educational needs (SEN).
“We refer children for things like speech and language therapy, but there is a shortage of speech and language therapists so some children aren’t seen for several years,” she said. “Early intervention is so important as without it, their need becomes greater and then the Government is going to end up spending more on that child. It really is a big mess.”
Ms McNamara, 34, who is a mum to children Caitlin, four and Rowan, two, told how she seriously considered leaving teaching even though she loves her job due to the high costs of childcare.
“I am glad I stayed, but there were times when it was really hard.”
Rachael’s children Caitlin, four an Rowan, twoShe also confirmed the rollout of breakfast clubs, which are already being piloted in 750 schools in England.
“As a parent, I want to see more money invested in childcare. But I would not want to see any cuts in schools to fund this,” she said.
square EDUCATION Reeves's 'tight' school funding could force staff cuts and hit children with SEND
Read More
“We have heard from school leaders who have had to turn to fundraising to help generate income, and some are having to consider cuts to teaching and teaching assistants.
“It will be absolutely vital that the government’s plans to reform the special educational needs system, expected in the autumn, are backed by the necessary funding, especially given the likely focus on educating more pupils with additional needs in mainstream schools.
“Schools need sustained long-term investment, not only in SEND, but also in core school funding and crumbling buildings.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ’I’m a SEND teacher – schools won’t be able to survive if they suffer more cuts’ )
Also on site :