BPS responds to surge in complaints about SEND provision received by MPs

Provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is one of the most common complaints received by MPs according to new research. Dr Helena Bunn, Chair of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology at the British Psychological Society, said:

"It is sadly unsurprising that MPs are receiving more and more correspondence about SEND provision in recent months. With nearly one in five pupils in England now receiving SEND support in the classroom, the whole system is in urgent need of reform and government must act at the earliest opportunity. 

"Growing and retaining educational psychologists, ensuring local authorities re-build comprehensive services that are free at the point of delivery, is vital to help meet and reverse soaring demand. Such an increase in demand has coincided with reductions in the local authority SEND offer to schools. This has caused the essential role of educational psychologists, who are vital in developing a skilled provision in schools and early years settings, to be overlooked. 

"Evidence tells us time and again that focusing on early intervention, key in supporting children and young people with SEND and their families, will prevent some problems from becoming entrenched. A re-establishment of educational psychology assistance in early years, schools and colleges is needed in building resilient SEND systems. A new costed plan for the SEND system is needed now more than ever before. It is important that all affected parties, including families, education leaders and educational psychologists, have a place at the table."

Find out about our campaign to address the need for more educational psychologists in local authorities in England, to make sure every child has the support they need to thrive in their education.