Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on new government guidance around creating inclusion bases in mainstream education settings.
“We welcome the publication of this guidance which builds on the excellent provision that already exists in many schools and colleges. However, we are not convinced that the government has allocated enough money to deliver the massive expansion of Send support in mainstream education it envisages.
“Its reforms mean schools and colleges will be supporting many more students with complex needs. High-quality inclusion bases which provide specialist support are therefore absolutely vital within mainstream settings.
“However, it is important to understand that this type of provision requires careful planning and staff development, high teacher-to-student ratios, and specialist support across a range of needs. Schools and colleges must be given the time and funding necessary to plan and deliver this level of provision.
“We fully support the intention behind the Send reforms. They have the potential to allow children and young people with complex needs to be taught closer to home which will reduce the need for long journeys to specialist settings and ensure they are educated alongside other children in their communities. But this cannot be done on the cheap.”