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A national census of school leaders has revealed growing concern that schools are being left to plug the gaps left by weakened local services, as they attempt to meet children’s needs well beyond the classroom.
The findings, published by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, show that attendance, behaviour and support for vulnerable pupils are greater concerns for school leaders than curriculum delivery. Many schools reported wanting to expand provision for mental health and family support, but lack the resources or specialist staff to do so.
Secondary schools expressed greater concern about funding for wider services than about their own budgets, highlighting the pressures caused by cuts to external provision.
Attendance was identified as the leading issue, with 39,000 children not in school and nearly 20% persistently absent – a figure that remains above pre-pandemic levels.
Concerns for children with SEND ranked highly. Over half of primary schools and two in five secondaries said the experiences and progress of children with EHCPs or SEN support were among their biggest worries, with funding and lack of staff the main barriers.
Social issues outside the school gates were widely reported, including mental health, online safety, poverty, sexism and misogyny.
Over 75% of schools without specialist roles said they wanted to provide access to mental health counsellors, family support officers, educational psychologists and education mental health practitioners.
The census, which drew responses from almost 90% of schools in England, is the first time the Children’s Commissioner has used statutory data powers to capture a comprehensive picture of how schools are supporting pupils and families.
Dame Rachel de Souza described the findings as evidence that “for some children even the best teaching will not be enough unless the systems around them can respond to the daily complexities of their lives”.
She called for a “next great wave of education reform” that broadens the definition of children’s needs beyond SEND, holds health and local government services accountable for attendance and outcomes, and ensures early intervention through milestone checks and statutory support plans.
Proposals include:
A new framework recognising a wider range of additional needs, supported by a unique child ID to aid real-time information sharing.
Statutory Children’s Plans tailored to the level of support needed, ranging from education-focused interventions to combined education, health and care plans.
Guarantees that every child is ‘school ready’ at Key Stage 1, with an additional ‘Reception Plus’ year available where needed.
A joint specialist support fund for education, health and children’s social care to underpin early and coordinated provision.
The census findings were launched at an event in Westminster with contributions from Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Baroness Dr Hilary Cass OBE, Ed Vainker OBE of the Reach Foundation, and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP.
Mr Burnham said the report “shines a light on significant cracks in the system” and echoed its call for greater support to schools from wider services. Baroness Cass described the shortfalls identified as “deeply worrying” but welcomed the ambition of the recommendations. Ed Vainker said the report confirmed that “a great school is necessary but not sufficient” without integrated support around children.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government’s forthcoming reforms will “lift every child up, wherever they are, whoever they are” and emphasised that her department is working to strengthen mental health support, expand free school meals and overhaul children’s social care.
