One in five parents and carers of children with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) are being turned away by early years settings due to a shortage of places and a “tsunami of need”, a charity survey has found.
The survey by early years SEND charity Dingley’s Promise found parents are being turned away as almost all settings are reporting an increase in number of children with SEND needing a place.
Meanwhile, almost nine in 10 councils say they currently have insufficient SEND provision, the charity found.
Among nurseries surveyed more than a quarter said that they were unable to offer any further spaces for children with SEND a year ago.
