I CAN responds to The Public Accounts Committee’s report and its concerns that reducing SEND support to maintain schools’ finances risks “damage to children’s education”

I CAN responds to The Public Accounts Committee’s report and its concerns that reducing SEND support to maintain schools’ finances risks “damage to children’s education”

At I CAN we know that the most common SEND concern is speech, language and communication needs. Mainstream schools must have adequate support and funding to support children with SLCN – with investment into workforce development, including both Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework and training for SENDCos- to better equip mainstream schools to support children.  

Appropriate SEND funding will help ensure children with speech, language and communication needs are properly identified and supported early, leading to the the real possibility that some children will not need ongoing SEND support. Identification and intervention must happen across all phases of education – as children move between nursery to reception, primary to secondary and beyond as not all needs will be apparent pre-school.  

I CAN is willing to work with the Department for Education on initial training and development programmes to support improved identification of children with speech, language and communication needs. 

Carol Payne, Interim Chief Executive 

Read the Public Accounts Committee’s report here