RCOT response to Sutton Trust school SEND funding survey

Commenting on the Sutton Trust’s poll of school leaders which found that funding is increasingly being cut for pupils with SEND, Professional Advisor for Children and Young People at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Dr Sally Payne, said:  

‘All children have a right to education, as well as the right to access to a range of opportunities and any support they need in school. It’s deeply frustrating that, despite growing recognition of the importance of supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the system is still not enabling funding and resources to reach children in the way they’re intended. Too often, schools are under such pressure that vital support is diluted or diverted, leaving pupils with SEND without the help they need. 

‘Our recent member survey found that the most common reasons that have made it difficult for children and young people to access or benefit from occupational therapy at school are a reduction in the availability of teaching assistants and a reduction in teachers’ capacity to carry out occupational therapy recommendations. This is having very real consequences for children with additional needs and is not only impacting their ability to learn now, but could also impact their life chances and their ability to secure a job in the future.  

‘From providing support with handwriting to changing environments so they feel less overwhelming, occupational therapists are central to helping children participate, learn and achieve at school and at home. Schools must ensure they have the right staff in place to implement the strategies and approaches that occupational therapists recommend, to ensure children and young people can make progress and thrive throughout school.’