Responding to new findings from the Education Policy Institute, which revealed the largest attainment gap on record for five-year-olds with additional needs, Ian Hartwright, head of policy at school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“Vulnerable children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have disproportionately suffered from funding cuts to schools and services over the last decade, and have been impacted harder by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Schools already go to extraordinary lengths to support pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), but they cannot do this alone.

"The government refused to properly fund the Covid recovery plan proposed by its own education recovery tsar, failing the children and young people who need help the most.  And the health, care and therapeutic services which should support schools are all too often under-funded and under-resourced.  This drives huge workload for school leaders and special educational needs coordinators who struggle to access services for pupils.

“Current financial pressures mean many schools will be unable to continue offering extra tutoring to pupils who need it as government subsidies are reduced, while funding for supporting children with SEND remains woefully inadequate. 

“The government must act upon these findings and do far more if it is serious about not only addressing educational disadvantage but also addressing the root causes.

“That means coming up with a cross-departmental plan to tackle child poverty and investing much more in both schools and community services like social care and mental health which are so important in helping children and families, and identifying SEND.

“Ministers must also ensure pupil premium funding reaches all pupils who are eligible for it. Too often social stigma means parents whose children are entitled to free school meals do not apply for them, but this also unlocks pupil premium money. We urge the government to introduce auto-enrolment in free school meals so that pupils who need it do not miss out on this vital additional support.”