The explosion in kids with special educational needs is destroying our schools
Liverpool Walton has the highest proportion of pupils identified with special educational needs in England, at 32 percent. Dave Clements' new book examines the rapid rise in SEND diagnoses, attributing it to a mix of increased awareness, cultural shifts, and a bureaucratic support system that often fails to deliver appropriate help. The article highlights how educational priorities have moved from fostering academic excellence to managing vulnerability, making SEND a central organising principle for schools.
- ▪The Times reported that Liverpool Walton now has the highest proportion of pupils with special educational needs in England, at 32 percent.
- ▪Clements argues that the rise in SEND diagnoses reflects both better awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions and a cultural trend toward medicalising normal childhood variation.
- ▪The current SEND support system is described as slow, bureaucratic, and often delivering labels without matching interventions.
- ▪Educational policy has shifted from emphasizing gifted and talented programmes to focusing on vulnerability and wellbeing, making SEND a core framework for schools.
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| Original publisher | spiked |
| Canonical URL | https://www.spiked-online.com/2026/08/06/the-explosion-in-kids-with-special-educational-needs-is-destroying-our-schools/ |
| Publication time | Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:55:58 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-08-06T05:10:23.638Z |
| Last seen | 2026-08-06T05:10:23.638Z |
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| Cluster | TmvrTxsDe2jZ · 1 stories |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The explosion in kids with special educational needs is destroying our schools Dave Clements’ The Crisis in the Classroom is a vital, timely intervention. i Getty dataLayer.push({ event: 'author', author: "Neil Davenport" }) Neil Davenport 6th August 2026 i Getty Share Topics Books UK Want unlimited, ad-free access? Become a spiked supporter. The Times reported last month that Liverpool Walton now has the highest proportion of pupils identified as having special educational needs in England, with 32 per cent of children recorded as requiring additional support. This includes both pupils with formal education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and those identified by schools as needing extra provision.
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