Mainstream schools are not beneficial for all Send children | Letters

2026-03-05 - 17:33

Readers on the importance of special schools in response to Frances Ryan’s article about Labour’s reforms on special educational needs and disabilities I’m pleased that Frances Ryan had a positive experience in mainstream school (Labour’s Send reforms get this right: disabled children in mainstream schools is transformative for everyone, 26 February). Unfortunately, the data shows that this isn’t the case for many disabled children today. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) are five times more likely to be excluded than their peers, and 50% more likely to struggle with attendance. Clearly something is not working for this cohort of children. My daughter’s experience of mainstream school certainly does not reflect Ryan’s. She has a learning disability and spent a lot of time in the classroom not knowing what was going on. At other times she was taken out to learn by herself with a teaching assistant. Her learning stalled. The Send coordinator said they didn’t have the resources to provide more. It didn’t benefit the other children either, who mostly ignored her and their parents excluded her from social activities. She had one friend – another neurodivergent child. Continue reading...