England’s Special Educational Needs: A Five-Year-Old Gap – Report Findings

Five-year-olds with special educational needs in England are falling behind their peers by a record 20 months, according to a report reflecting on the deepening crisis faced by the country’s youngest learners, five years after the pandemic. The Education Policy Institute’s (EPI) annual report highlights that since Covid closed schools, there have been concerns regarding the growing attainment gap, particularly affecting disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. Though the disadvantage gap at primary and secondary schools has been marginally narrowed between 2023 and 2024, it remains significantly wider than before the pandemic, with children with special educational needs and disabilities being the most affected. The gap in learning has also grown wider among children in reception class at the start of their education, with five-year-olds having education, health, and care plans being 20.1 months behind their peers, the broadest gap on record. These developments indicate long-lasting effects on infants’ development, urging policymakers to take swift actions to address the crisis through higher funding for disadvantaged learners, addressing student absence, and fixing the special educational needs system.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/15/five-year-olds-in-england-with-special-educational-needs-20-months-behind-peers-report