Underfunding of SEND is putting provision at risk

We are all dedicated practitioners and managers striving to provide the best for all children within our diverse settings, yet we are experiencing insurmountable difficulties in meeting the needs of very young, vulnerable children who have special needs.

We are not ‘allowed’ to claim 1:1 funding for these children, as we are told [this] is not necessary. We would like to invite those who believe this to be the case to come into our settings and show us how we can safeguard, let alone teach, children who have no speech, no understanding of danger or risk and an active curiosity to explore, climb, throw, hit and taste, within usual ratios.

Children aged two, who are not entitled to government funding, are not entitled to any support at all. Yet, as inclusive settings, we are legally bound to accept these children. Once the children are three, and are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare, we can then apply for financial support. To even apply for funding, we must have two terms of evidence to support our claim, which means settings are already struggling before the insufficient funding is allocated.