Responding to the annual IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies) report on education spending, which highlights a £6-bn gap between expected funding and spending on SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) in 2028, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 

“This report lays out in stark terms the difficult choices ahead for the government when it comes to spending on schools, with costs expected to continue rising and demand for support for pupils with additional needs likely to increase further.

“Despite the welcome uplift in per-pupil funding, many schools’ finances remain under considerable strain, with leaders grappling with deficit budgets and unenviable choices like cutting teaching and teaching assistant jobs, or the hours they work.

“In our funding survey last year, 98% of school leaders said their school did not have sufficient funding to fully meet the needs of its pupils, and some told us they had even had to resort to fundraising to bring in additional income.

“The choice ahead isn’t between investing in schools or reforming the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system – both are vital, and reforms must be driven by improving support for children, not simply saving money.

“At a time when public finances are tight, the government must continue to prioritise school funding - not merely treading water, but showing real ambition to help schools deliver for pupils, including the most disadvantaged.”