MORE than half of teachers say the level of support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) has decreased in the last five years, a survey suggests.

Only 5 per cent of teachers say that the pupils with Send they teach always receive the educational support to which they are legally entitled, according to a poll by NASUWT teaching union.

The findings have been released ahead of the union’s two-day annual conference in Liverpool over Easter, which starts tomorrow.

Delegates at NASUWT conference are due to debate a motion which calls on the government to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the growing demands for Send provision.

General secretary of NASUWT Patrick Roach said: “The government has inherited a Send system on its knees.

“Our latest survey findings point to the major challenges that will need to be overcome if any reforms to Send provision are to be successful.”

A Department for Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: “We are already making progress by investing £1 billion into Send and £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools, paving the way for significant, long-term reform.”