THE “deplorable state” of children’s support services is having a “profound impact” on pupil wellbeing, a school leaders’ union will say today.

Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) president Evelyn Forde is due to condemn Tory ministers for crippling services during a decade of austerity.

In a speech to more than 1,000 headteachers and principals at the union’s annual conference in Birmingham, Ms Forde will argue schools and colleges have effectively become a “fourth emergency service, left to pick up the pieces.”