The number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) but no statement has increased in the last year.

It makes my blood boil that children do not have statements of their educational needs as that way schools and education departments do not have to provide it. I have had to pay £600 in two years for assessments for my dyslexic child and still the school gives her no help at all.

Schools receive central funding to support children on the SEN register - statement or no statement. It is up to the school however on how they disseminate this funding for use with children on the register. Schools should therefore be providing SOME support for your dyslexic child.

Many local authorities are now entrusting 100 per cent of funding to their schools, for them to have more autonomy in how best to meet the needs of their pupils. The assessment and statement process has been an issue for some time. Due to the decline in the number of formal assessment requests received by local authorities, there will, of course, be fewer pupils with statements. Schools are being given additional funding to meet the needs of these pupils, without the school taking the formal assessment route. However, there is a big concern about the destination of this money as it is not ring fenced and schools can use this for the things they believe that are priority. Evidence from recent requests for help from nasen members is indicating that even those children who have a statement are not always receiving the support that is indicated in the statement. Although there is anxiety about the reduction in statements, I must stress that there should be greater concern about the transparency of how the SEN budget in a school is being spent. Lorraine Petersen, CEO of nasen