SEND: A call for inclusion and systemic change
The crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision has reached a breaking point in schools across the country, with the North East among the hardest hit. Rising demand, stretched budgets, and systemic inefficiencies have left many children without the support they need to thrive.
At last week’s Schools North East Academies Conference 2025, Tom Rees, CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust and Chair of the Education Expert Advisory Group, set out a compelling vision for reform. He argued that inclusion must be a core function of every school, not an afterthought, and called for a radical shift in how the education system approaches SEND.
His message resonates strongly with the challenges Schools North East has identified through extensive engagement with school leaders—including surveys, roundtables, and discussions with members of the National Network of Specialist Schools (NNoSS) for School Business Professionals.
The reality of the SEND crisis
Findings gathered from school leaders across the North East, and NNoSS members across the country, paint a stark picture:
- Funding Shortfalls – 85% of schools cite insufficient funding as the biggest barrier to effective SEND support. Delays in securing EHCP funding exacerbate the challenge.
- Rising Demand, Limited Capacity – 81% of schools report an increase in high-need pupils, particularly those with autism and SEMH (social, emotional, and mental health needs). Specialist school places are critically oversubscribed, with children waiting over a year for placements.
- Barriers to EHCPs – 58% of schools experience long delays in EHCP approvals, leaving children without timely support. Multi-agency working remains inconsistent, causing frustration for families and schools alike.
- Staffing Pressures – Recruitment and retention of trained SEND staff remain a challenge, with many schools reliant on untrained or temporary staff. The added burden on teachers risks burnout and inconsistent support for students.
NNoSS members have spoken candidly: “If we were adequately funded, we could respond to all the other challenges we face.” Another put it bluntly: “We are failing children now.”
Rees: Inclusion must be built into the system
Tom Rees delivered a powerful call to action, arguing that the SEND system isn’t just broken—it was never designed to succeed.
Despite more than 40 years of reform, dating back to the Warnock Report (1978) and Education Act (1981), the system remains fragmented, bureaucratic, and adversarial. Schools, parents, and local authorities fight over limited resources rather than working within a system that meets needs as standard.
Rees challenged the false divide between SEND and mainstream education, arguing that the current deficit model—where children must be diagnosed and labelled before receiving support—is flawed and outdated. Instead, he urged a move towards “inclusion by design”, where schools are equipped to support a broad range of learning needs from the outset.
His vision for reform includes:
- Empowering Teachers – Ensuring mainstream teachers have the training and confidence to support SEND pupils in the classroom without excessive bureaucracy.
- Moving Beyond Labels – A shift away from a system that relies on diagnosis to allocate resources, towards one that prioritises early intervention and flexible support.
- Embedding Inclusion in Policy – His Education Expert Advisory Group will provide strategic recommendations to government on ensuring SEND inclusion is central to school policy, rather than a bolt-on.
A system designed to thrive, not fail
Rees emphasised that solving the SEND crisis is not just about funding—it’s about rethinking the system itself. While government plays a key role, schools, trusts, and the profession as a whole must lead the way in designing better, more inclusive practices.
He closed with a simple but powerful truth: “This is not just about education. It’s about ensuring every child, regardless of their challenges, grows up feeling valued and able to contribute to society.”
Read the full transcript of his speech at The Schools North East Academies Conference 2025, here.
Schools North East stands firmly behind this call for change. We will continue to work with school leaders, policymakers, and SEND specialists to push for meaningful, practical reforms that ensure every child gets the education they deserve.