SCHOOLS in the Northeast have the lowest participation rates on a programme designed to academically support those with additional needs. 

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) provides primary and secondary schools with funding for targeted academic support, delivered by trained tutors.

The programme aims to directly counter some of the pandemic's effects on the learning of disadvantaged children, such as those with special educational needs (SEN).

The Department for Education announced plans to simplify the programme for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. These plans involve providing £349 million of core tutoring funding directly to schools to give them the freedom to decide how best to provide tutoring for their pupils.

Government data on the programme revealed the Northeast has the lowest participation in the programme, accounting for less than six per cent of special education needs students on the programme compared with London which has over 18 per cent. 

The data was collected by specialist recruitment firm Engage Education, to reveal where participation in the programme is lowest for special education needs students.

It revealed the Northeast has a total of 19,348 SEN students and a programme participation rate of five per cent.

Less than 140,000 children in the Northeast received support in 2022 compared with 414,200 in London and 433,500 in the South East. 

With nearly 1.5 million pupils in England having special education needs, and the Northeast being the region with the highest proportion of disabled people, Engage Education says more needs to be done to meet these needs.

The differences across the UK in NTP participation reflect government data which reveals the Northeast region has the least special education needs students receiving an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or SEN support.

The EHCP provides more support than is available through special educational needs support.

Joseph Raffell, head of education at Engage Education, said: "Some students, including those with SEND, require extra help adapting to having a tutor. The NTP recognises the individual needs of each pupil and offers a high level of flexibility and choice. NTP tutors can offer support in a range of subjects and provide targeted support for pupils in small groups or on a one-to-one basis, tailoring their expertise to support their identified needs.

“SEND students often face challenges in keeping pace with their peers. Tutoring can help bridge the academic gap by providing additional support and reinforcement in key subjects. Tutors can offer specialised instruction, focusing on areas where students may require extra assistance or reinforcement.

"Many SEND students struggle with confidence and self-esteem. Tutoring allows students to receive individual attention and guidance, allowing them to work at their own pace without fear of judgement or falling behind. This nurturing environment can significantly boost their confidence and motivation to succeed academically.

“Similarly, this means tutors can prepare for the needs of each pupil on a personal level, ensuring they are clear on the emotional and mental support students might need alongside the educational needs of the pupils, to enable the students to get the most out of this support."

The Department for Education published an improvement plan earlier this year to create thousands more specialist school places, to ensure children with additional needs across the country can get support. 

Hayley Turner, from Haydon Bridge, helped to establish a support group for parents and carers of children or young people with additional needs and disabilities, called Bridge2Care, during the Covid pandemic.

She said: "The schools themselves need to fund this additional support and whilst this may be achievable for a larger school with more children with Additional Educational Needs, the cost will be prohibitive for smaller schools with fewer pupils requiring the support.

"At Bridge2Care, we know the difficulties parent-carers face in getting a diagnosis for their children. This has become even more difficult since the pandemic with longer waiting lists and fewer staff.

"An area where a lot of our members struggle is to get a Speech and Language assessment or support for their children. This is often crucial for the child’s needs to be understood and helps determine whether an Education, Health and Care plan is needed.

"Without adequate funding, children will continue to be under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed which ultimately leads to them being unable to fulfil their true potential," she added.

Emma Gowland, a member of Bridge2Care, said: "We need more support for our children across the board." 

Bridge2Care supports parent-carers with EHCP and educational difficulties. For more information, email bridge2care@hotmail.com.