A new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has highlighted the significant demand for educational psychologists in English councils to support children with special needs. According to the research, councils require an additional 1,400 educational psychologists to meet the current demand, at a cost of £140m.
The EPI found that the growing number of children with conditions such as autism is driving the demand for support. The organisation estimates that there are over 1 million children with special educational needs (SEN) in England, with the number of children with SEN increasing by 5% annually.
Current funding for educational psychologists is insufficient to meet the demand, with some councils relying on temporary or agency staff to fill the gap. The report's authors suggest that the £140m required to hire additional educational psychologists could be met through government grants.
The Opposition has responded to the report, with Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, stating that the government has 'failed to provide adequate funding for special educational needs'. Phillipson called for the government to 'urgently review' its funding for educational psychologists and increase support for children with SEN.
The government has yet to comment on the report's findings. However, the Department for Education has stated that it is committed to supporting children with SEN and will continue to work with councils to ensure they have the resources they need to provide adequate support.