School leaders warn of ‘full-blown’ special needs crisis in England

The general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers accused the government of treating schools as a ‘sideline’. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Shortages and funding cuts are causing a “full-blown crisis” in special needs education for children and young people in England, according to school leaders who say they are struggling to give pupils the support they require.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the school leaders’ union the NAHT, accused the government of treating schools as a “sideline” compared with headline-grabbing issues such as immigration.