Children with additional learning needs up and down the country are facing an even tougher time in school due to the lack of funding and red tape barriers which prevent them from receiving the support they need to reach their full potential. 
Support staff in schools are stretched to capacity and support a variety of needs in the classroom, however, for those children who need 1:1 support this becomes even harder. There are so many criteria that they have to meet, in main stream schools, for children to qualify for additional funding that many children that require this level of support are deemed not to require it. This puts additional pressure on class teachers and teaching assistants who have assessment targets to meet and often the children with additional needs are included in the figures unfairly for them. With the correct additional support, these children would have an opportunity to reach their individual potential, whether that be academically or in other areas. While it is important to know the basics , reading, writing, maths skills. It is also important for children to realise that they have other options. I Worked in a school for a number of years and became  increasingly frustrated that I could not give the level of support, I knew was needed, to children because they did not qualify for funding for that level of support. The support some children need comes far to late in theireducational journey which can lead to them feeling like they’ve failed before they’ve even had a chance to thrive.  I believe ALL children should have the opportunity to be successful in life and with the right support from an early stage there is little reason for them not to. Let’s change the way the school support system works and remove the barriers that prevent children receiving the support they need!