Poorer families face ‘double disadvantage’ in SEND support, report finds
The Sutton Trust found middle-class families were more successful in obtaining special school places (41%), compared with 25% of lower-income parents
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from low-income families face major inequalities in accessing support, according to new research by the Sutton Trust.
The education charity said pupils from poorer backgrounds experience a “double disadvantage”, as parents with fewer resources are less able to navigate the system and secure formal plans for support.
Despite only 26% of children in England qualifying for free school meals, they make up 44% of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and 39% of those receiving SEND support without an EHCP.
The report found that pupils eligible for free school meals are also over-represented in every category of SEND, most notably in ‘Moderate Learning Difficulties’, ‘Severe Learning Difficulties’ and ‘Social, Emotional and Mental Health’.
These pupils experience a double disadvantage at school, according to the Sutton Trust, as children with SEND who receive free school meals have lower outcomes at Key Stage 4 than their better off peers with SEND.
In 2023/2024, only 7.5% of FSM pupils with an EHCP received a 4+ (a standard pass) in English and Maths, compared with 17% of those with an EHCP from better-off families.
EHCPs are legally binding documents outlining the support a child is entitled to, whereas SEND support without an EHCP is less formal.
The Sutton Trust found that families with greater financial means were more likely to secure an EHCP, partly because they could afford to spend money on applications. Some 68% of middle-class parents reported spending money on the application, compared with 28% of working-class parents, and 11% of middle-class parents said they spent over £5,000.
Middle-class families were also more successful in obtaining special school places, as 41% reported securing a place, compared with 25% of lower-income parents. Among those with children in special schools, 12% had spent more than £5,000 on EHCP, compared with 1% of parents with children in mainstream schools.
The report also found that parents from better-off households were generally more satisfied with the quality of support their children received, including academic progress, behaviour, and pastoral care.
In light of the findings, the Sutton Trust has urged the government to simplify the SEND process and ensure fairer access to support. It also called for action to address the connection between child poverty and SEND, and to reduce diagnosis backlogs and waiting times so that families are not forced to pay for faster assessments.
Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said: “We all know the SEND system is in crisis, and these findings show startling inequalities in who is able to access support. It’s unacceptable that a child’s background can dictate whether they get the help they need to thrive and be happy at school. This is a major barrier to their opportunities and can profoundly impact their long-term prospects.
“Right now, disadvantaged kids with SEND are being failed by a system beset with inconsistency and mind-boggling bureaucracy. Getting the right support for a child shouldn’t be about a parent’s ability to pay. We need urgent action to make the system work better for everyone.”
