1 in 5 schools say their special needs facilities are 'not fit for purpose'

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 00:01, 28 April 2026 | Updated: 00:03, 28 April 2026 One in five schools say their special needs facilities are 'not fit for purpose' in a blow to Labour's landmark reforms, research suggests. A straw poll of 284 headteachers of mainstream schools found 20 per cent had special needs classrooms, outdoor spaces or sensory rooms which were either inadequate or closed.  The research, from the NAHT teaching union, will come as a blow to Labour ministers who unveiled a White Paper in February outlining landmark special needs reforms. Their plan is to cut costs to councils by giving mainstream schools more responsibility for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). It could result in more of these pupils being placed in mainstream schools, rather than special schools. Ministers have pledged £3.7 billion from this year to 2030 to adapt mainstream classrooms for Send – but the NAHT says this is not enough. An NAHT spokesman said: 'These findings show that in many schools, existing buildings and facilities used to support pupils with Send are not up to scratch. 'The Government has demonstrated a commitment to creating more specialist places, including in mainstream schools, but should not underestimate the scale of work required in the years ahead.  One in five schools say their special needs facilities are 'not fit for purpose' in a blow to Labour's landmark reforms, research suggests (pictured: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson) 'This is not just about creating new spaces but ensuring the ones we have are fit for purpose.' They added that any new special needs places 'must be matched with sustained investment over time.' The unweighted poll covered members of the NAHT, which represents mostly primary heads.  A separate part of the survey, covering 326 headteachers from all types of school, found 51 per cent had areas of their school that were out of use or unfit for purpose. Respondents complained of crumbling buildings, mouldy walls, leaking roofs and collapsed drains. Of those that said they had areas closed or sub-par, 65 per cent said toilet blocks needed refurbishing, and 8 per cent said they have toilets that are closed.  NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said some schools are in a 'desperate situation'. He added: 'No child or teacher should be expected to operate in draughty, crumbling buildings – doing so can risk their learning, health and safety.' At the NAHT's annual conference later this week, members will debate a motion to lobby the Government on funding repairs. Steve Hitchcock, headteacher at St Peter's CE Primary School in Budleigh Salterton, said: 'I don't have enough money to replace carpets and decorate – simple annual tasks.' Another head said: 'We have rooms that are closed to children, walls covered in mould, a leaking roof, sinking floorboards, unfit windows and a condemned playground.' A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We are already turning the page on years of decline in the school estate - fixing a legacy of neglect, committing to removing RAAC for good and delivering a decade of national renewal. 'Schools have had to patch and mend buildings for too long – that ends under this government. For the first time, we are providing long-term investment, rising to almost £3 billion per year over the next decade to improve the condition of our schools and colleges. 'It's about more than just buildings - it's about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.