An LGA-commissioned report reveals that councils and early-years practitioners are seeing a sharp rise in both the number and complexity of needs among under-fives.
The study, carried out by Isos Partnership, found that nearly every council and 90% of early-years professionals surveyed reported growing demand, particularly for children with communication and social interaction challenges.
Key drivers include poverty, family stress, increasing neurodivergence, and the long-term impacts of pandemic lockdowns, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
The report also found that almost 40% of providers have cut hours for children needing extra help, and around a quarter say they’ve had to refuse children because they lack capacity.
Practitioners call for more national funding (75%) and enhanced specialist early-years provision (48%), while 66% of council leads back a national workforce strategy.
The LGA is urging the Government to build stronger inclusivity into its SEND reforms and ensure early years gets its share of investment.
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