On the first day of its annual conference in Liverpool, the NEU has released analysis showing that just nine of the 150 local authorities in receipt of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) funding had enough to support need in their area.
Some 94 per cent of local authorities have suffered shortfalls in their higher needs budgets - which they spend on SEND provision in schools.
During the same period - between 2015/16 and 2018/19 - the number of children and young people with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) rose by 33 per cent - from 240,000 to 320,000.
The union says that government investment in the "high needs block" rose, but only by six per cent - from £5.6bn to £6bn in today's prices - and therefore is not enough to support children with complex needs.
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