A LOST generation of children could leave school without receiving the help they need if action is not taken to address England’s “inequitable” special educational needs system, MPs have warned.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said too many families are struggling to access the help their children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) “desperately need.”

In a damning report, the committee said whether children receive support depends too much on their postcode, or how well families can navigate “an often chaotic and adversarial system.”

It highlighted “long waiting times” for assessments and support and an increase in the number of parents who are appealing education, health and care plan decisions via tribunals.

Nearly all cases taken to tribunal were found in favour of parents.

The Send system remains “unviable” with current piecemeal interventions doing nothing to provide a financially sustainable system, according to the cross-party committee.

The PAC has called on the government to urgently take action to improve the system which it warned is putting nearly half of councils in England at risk of “effectively going bankrupt.”

While £740 million has been allocated to create specialist school places and facilities, MPs say this falls short of addressing the systemic crisis.

Education leaders and charities called for urgent reforms and long-term funding to end the crisis.

Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said: “It is hard to imagine a more damning report.

“Not only are children being failed by the pressures on the Send system, but almost half of councils are in danger of going bust because of the government’s failure to get to grips with the problem despite repeated warnings over many years.

“It is truly lamentable.”

Sense chief executive Richard Kramer said: “This devastating new report lays bare the speed of change needed to avert catastrophe in our crumbling and chronically underfunded specialist education system.

“We know many disabled children are being home educated because there is no other choice, and that exhausted parents are giving up careers to fight for their children’s basic rights.

“But today’s warning… still makes shocking reading.”

Joey Nettleton Burrows of the National Autistic Society said: “It’s extremely concerning that, despite years of warnings, the DfE has failed to understand and act on this crisis. Enough is enough.”

The Local Government Association warned that without immediate action, councils will face “a financial cliff edge,” forcing cuts to services to balance budgets.