Thousands of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are facing a desperate struggle to access education, with government figures revealing a stark rise in persistent absences. In the past academic year alone, nearly a third of SEND youngsters - 429,334 in total - missed at least 10% of their schooling, compared to just 15% (911,103) of children without special needs.
Families are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with devastating consequences for young people's futures. Millie Jellyman, a 21-year-old autistic student from the West Midlands, was largely absent from her secondary school education after the age of 11. Her parents eventually withdrew her at 14 due to the overwhelming impact of the school environment on her mental and physical wellbeing - leaving her without any qualifications. 'I have no future,' Millie despairingly told her mother, Jackie.
The issue has worsened since the pandemic. SEND children's persistent absence rates rose from 19% in 2018-19 to a record high of 33% during the Covid-19 period, and show no signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels. In contrast, non-SEND youngsters' absences have recently begun to decline - highlighting the deep-seated barriers faced by SEND children.
The government's recent reforms aim to address these challenges, introducing 'inclusion bases' within mainstream schools and committing £1.6bn over three years to boost inclusivity and specialist support. However, families like the Jellymans question whether this will be enough to overcome the systemic issues driving persistent absences.