City of York Council responded to a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) from The Press, over the provision of SEND places in York.
The council has a responsibility to provide specialist places across its three designated locations: Hob Moor Oaks, Danesgate and Applefields.
Responding to the FOI, the council revealed that 548 pupils applied for SEND places ahead of the upcoming academic year in York.
It also said that 489 pupils were registered for SEND places in the upcoming academic year, meaning 59 children were initially left without specialist provision to match their needs.
However, the council said the additional pupils will have places in education for the next academic year.
Martin Kelly, corporate director of children and education at City of York Council said: “All children with SEND have been allocated a school place and have been provided where necessary with additional support for transition through the specialist teaching team.
“In common with all local authorities nationally, the requests for special school places have been increasing as the number of children with education, health and care plans has continued to rise.
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“In order to ensure that this pressure is being managed in York, we have made additional spaces available through capital projects at Applefields School and Hob Moor Oaks and have also increased enhanced resourced provision.
“We are also continuing to work with mainstream schools to ensure that they are equipped with the skills and confidence to provide appropriate education for children with additional needs in an environment where they can thrive.”
York’s figures match the national trend in lack of SEND provision.
A motion to the National Education Union (NEU) annual conference on Thursday (August 9) calls on the union to lobby the Government for increased funding for SEND provision.
It warns the situation is becoming “critical” and young people and their families are being “let down” by the current system.
One respondent to a survey sent to all NEU members said: “The current system is failing children. We do not have the resources, environments, skilled staff or time to support these students.
“Funding is completely inadequate and paying to support children with high-level need has wiped out our school budget and negatively impacted all other pupils.”
Another said: “Every class has pupils with Send and most now have children with complex needs.
“These needs often include medical or mental health needs but the funding isn’t available to properly meet these needs.
“Last year we made a loss of £7,000 per child with EHCP, meaning that resources had to be pulled from other children.”
Are you a parent of a child that requires SEND provision at school? Send your experience of applying for a place to: Harry.Booth@Newsquest.co.uk
