(UK) Isle of Jersey: SPED numbers doubled since 2020; 20.5% have special needs

June 17, 2025, Jersey, itvX:  Jersey schools are failing pupils with Special Educational Needs, says former headteacher 

A former Jersey headteacher says schools are unable to cope with the rising number of children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND).

Iain George, who was the headteacher of Janvrin School for the past 20 years before retiring in January, explains that resources are thin on the ground despite them being needed more than ever, as the number of pupils with recorded needs across the island has doubled since 2020.

Mr George says: "When it comes to complex, challenging needs, we have nowhere near enough support.

"What will often happen is that you'll have to divert and reprioritise your general provision towards children who have an escalated or heightened need, which means that you're diluting the service for everybody else.

"My frustration was that, if a child has a need, if a child has a visible need, there does need to be a robust system for assessing and identifying what those needs are.

"Those needs aren't always being met and certainly not being met in good time."

There are currently 559 children with recorded needs in Jersey, compared to 271 in 2020.

Mr George adds that he and other teachers would spend extra time helping SEND pupils, working well past their allocated hours.

For example, he says he would sometimes start at 7:30am and not leave school until around 8pm as a result of the additional work needed to support those students.

Mr George believes the island's teachers and assistants are "being paid a pittance" and deserve more support from the Government.

He explains: "If you're dealing with high level, challenging children and you're being paid, say £15-an-hour, and on any given day you could be assaulted verbally or physically, or you're dealing with a distressed child which is distressing for you as well, and you're only getting that, that is an issue. . . .

Aside from better pay for staff, Mr George says schools need easier access to educational psychologists as a way of tailoring the support a pupil with special educational needs receives.

Schools in Jersey receive a base sum of £11,111 [$1,500] per student with Record of Need (RoN) as part of their funding for special educational needs. . . .

Andy Wright adds: "There needs to be a full systemic review of how the Education Department identifies needs and meets needs.

"One size absolutely does not fit all and that's what I'm seeing and experiencing. That's what other parents are telling me as well.

"The special educational needs service needs significant investment."

ITV News put these concerns to Jersey's Education Minister, Deputy Rob Ward, who says provision for SEND pupils is an issue faced around the world. . . .

According to The States of Guernsey, 20.5% of all school aged children in Alderney and Guernsey have Additional Learning Needs, but the way in which needs are assessed does differ between islands.

Jo Van Herwegen, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Education at University College London and a SEND specialist says there's a variety of factors behind the rising numbers.

"First of all there is more awareness, so we see an increase of the children in early years. We also see that there is a broadening of certain definitions

"It’s a complex case - we’re talking about people who have genetic differences or also then interact with the environment."

She added that environmental factors can include screen time, lack of exercise and processed foods - all influencing children's behaviour.