As a result of better understanding, now more than ever before, students in the independent sector are receiving SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) support, says Elizabeth Ivens
One in five pupils ? more than 100,000 ? in Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools currently receive some form of SEND support, according to the ISC?s most recent census in 2023, up from around 12.5 per cent just a decade earlier.
In many schools, SEND provision has evolved and developed as public awareness and understanding of neurodiversity has increased.
At Blundell?s School in Devon, which caters for a ?diverse range of needs?, Head of Learning Support Sara-Jane Soutar, explains: ?Nationally, there has been a noticeable increase in the awareness of neurodiversity. As SEND has become more mainstream and recognised within the educational landscape, we?ve enhanced our commitment to meeting the diverse additional needs of all our pupils, and ensuring their success both academically and personally.? For many parents who are already aware their child has additional needs, Independent schools are a popular choice because so many have outstanding specialist support in place. For others, their children are identified with special educational needs because of the expertise of that specialist provision. At Blundell?s, Sara-Jane Soutar says that staff are ?trained to recognise and identify pupils who may need additional support? and ?the school?s internal referral system ensures that pupi...