Schools in England are struggling to support pupils with special needs or disabilities. A survey of 1,100 school leaders found delays to assessments, insufficient budgets, and cuts in funding to local authorities. The Government says it has increased funding for those with ‘high needs’. There are 1.3 million children in England - 15% of the total - who have special educational needs or disabilities. Of these, 1.1 million are in mainstream schools rather than in special schools. 82% of mainstream schools do not have sufficient funding and budget to provide adequately for pupils with special educational needs. 89% of school leaders believe cuts to local authority services have had a detrimental impact on the support their school can give these pupils. Three-quarters of schools have pupils who have been waiting longer than expected for assessment of special needs or an education, health and care plan. 88% of school leaders think that initial training does not prepare teachers adequately to support pupils with special needs.