Almost four in 10 leaders expect their school will make cuts to support for pupils with SEND next year, sparking concerns over a “worrying gap” between government reform ambitions and the reality on the frontline. A Sutton Trust-commissioned poll, conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research, shows more than 40 per cent of leaders have already slashed resources to support children with SEND this year. Nearly a quarter have also reduced teacher assistant numbers. Government ‘contradictions’ Thirty-six per cent of the leaders quizzed during the study anticipated further cutbacks to SEND support in 2026-27. Just under 60 per cent expect teaching assistant reductions, while 37 per cent said support staff would be slashed. This was despite 43 per cent reporting they had made SEND support cuts this year. This was particularly prevalent in primaries (45 per cent). Many have also made reductions to teaching assistants (71 per cent), support staff (49 per cent) and teaching staff (30 per cent). The figures were lower than those recorded by the Sutton Trust last year, but come …