Around 20,000 pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are unlikely to return to school this month, according to a new report.

A survey of special school leaders reveals that the vast majority thought some of their pupils would not be returning to school this term.

As pupils across the country return to full-time education this week, a report has been published today looking at the likely impact on pupils with SEND.

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It has involved in-depth interviews and surveys of special school leaders and more than 500 parents whose children attend a special school.

The survey reveals that:

• 84 per cent of special school and college leaders thought some of their pupils would not return to school this term.
• 64 per cent thought this was because parents did not think it would be safe.
• 98 per cent of special school and college leaders said they had pupils who they thought would find it difficult to adhere to safe practice and social distancing from adults. 

Headteachers at more than 200 schools and colleges said “that guidance from the government had been unclear and showed a lack of understanding of how special schools work, the types of pupils they support and how much they rely on other services, including health and social care, transport and local charities”.

Schools reopening: Calls for more funding for pupils with SEND

The report says leaders wanted assurances that how they operate will not endanger pupils or staff and that additional funding will be made available to help them meet the needs of pupils with SEND, including the need for additional staffing. 

It also found that some parents of children with SEND were concerned about sending their children back to school or college in September because their children are medically vulnerable or because their needs mean they cannot adhere to social distancing

Amy Skipp, director of ASK Research, who led the project, said: “From the moment the announcement about school closures was made, the government has got it wrong for these schools and the highly vulnerable pupils and families they support. Heads and parents told us repeatedly how they felt forgotten about.

“Messages from government and the issued guidance have been so confused for children with special needs that headteachers have faced an impossible situation over the last few months, which will culminate in tens of thousands of our most vulnerable children and young people not accessing the vital support they rely on from special schools.”