Building a Sustainable SEND Workforce | 2026 Report | Randstad UK

1.76m pupils supported.

As of January 2025, 19.5% of children in England have a special educational need—an increase of 93,000 pupils in a single year.
87% workforce resilience.

87% of educators feel 'Always' or 'Mostly' capable of providing necessary SEND support, proving the inherent strength of the workforce.
54% foundation.

54% of educators are entering their roles fully equipped with critical pupil information from day one, allowing for immediate impact.
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Our strength lies in moving beyond reactive management to long-term, sustainable workforce planning.

alignment with National Standards.

Our talent solutions are pre-aligned with the DfE’s March 2026 SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, ensuring consistency across every school and local authority.
championing early intervention.

We facilitate upskilling that empowers educators to identify needs early, reducing the future requirement for costly, high-intensity support.
workforce preparedness & training.

We invest in our people via targeted upskilling for complex duties, such as intimate care, ensuring staff are equipped for the reality of the modern classroom.

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what’s inside the report?

Autumn 2025 survey data: Deep-dive findings from over 1,500 teachers, TAs, and tutors on the ground.
Postcode preparedness: Regional analysis of SEND experience, from 100% prevalence in Wales to 71% in the East Midlands.
The financial crisis: Navigating the projected £4.6 billion deficit in local authority school budgets by March 2026.
Innovative talent pipelines: Exploring how Teacher Degree Apprenticeships (TDAs) and skills-based hiring can fill critical gaps.
Lived experience case studies: Qualitative insights from former headteachers and tutors on the "mainstream challenge".

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what is the "National SEND Survey Autumn 2025"?

It is a comprehensive study capturing the voices of over 1,500 teachers, TAs, and tutors to provide a definitive view of the current systemic pressures and professional resilience in the UK.
how does Randstad support the DfE’s 2026 Improvement Plan?

We align our recruitment and training with the DfE’s focus on national consistency, early intervention, and financial sustainability, ensuring our staff are ready to deliver 'right support, right place, right time'.
what are the key drivers of the current SEND recruitment crisis?

The crisis is driven by excessive workloads, mental health pressures, and a lack of support for complex needs, leading to a 62% shortfall in secondary school recruitment targets for 2024/25.