A teacher has given a rare insight into the brutal reality facing Bradford’s schools and pupils.

The staff member, who has worked for more than 20 years in the Bradford district, shed light on the sheer demand for special needs and learning disability support.

Staff have been left feeling exhausted, burnt out and “like a failure,” she said. 

It isn’t the first time that alarm has been raised.

Just over a year ago, Bradford Council received a damning report which claimed parents and carers had lost faith in the special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision.

The inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission revealed “significant concerns”.

In March, the Government rejected the Council’s bid for a new 150-place SEND free school. 

The constant battle has left schools in crisis, the teacher warned. 

The educator, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I've never seen so many children who need so much support and there is no funding for it. I've just had enough. I am alarmed.

“We have children with significant special needs who are still in mainstream school with a 1-1 but there's no way in a mainstream classroom they can have their needs met.

“There are a few children accepted into special school and on waiting lists, but a year later still in mainstream school.

“These children can often be disruptive through no fault of their own but this obviously affects other children's learning. Funding is so bad children who clearly need an educational health care plan are being denied.

“There is then pressure on schools to provide support for these children out of their own shrinking ridiculously small budgets. Valuable teaching assistants are being taken from supporting a whole class to giving 1-1 support to extremely special needs children. When a class teacher loses their support in class this adds to their pressure, stress and workload.

“Ever tried to send 30 children to the toilet when you're in a class on your own, with a child with autism who has no official support, children with behavioural issues and another 27 kids? Impossible. It’s unmanageable.

“You spend your time as a teacher feeling not good enough because you haven't got the resources to meet everyone's needs, so you feel like a failure and have low self esteem. Teachers are exhausted, burned out and leaving the profession.

“Short term: Teachers on sick, leaving, children with limited support, levels of behaviour, mental health and attainment reducing. Long term: the whole education system will implode.”

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said the local authority is aware of the pressure facing schools nationally and locally.

Cllr Khan said: “In Bradford we have developed our specialist teaching and advisory service to support schools to respond to the needs of children and young people with SEND.

“Funding for SEND in Bradford’s schools has increased year on year and funding in the Bradford district for SEND is higher than the national average. We have created more than 1,000 specialist places for children and young people with SEND in the past five years and have plans to increase this further to meet demand.

“We need more funding to meet the increased demand and the Government need to support us with this. That is why we were bitterly disappointed that our bid to set up a new school was not approved.

“We want all local children to thrive in an appropriate learning environment.”

In a statement, Bradford District Health and Care Partnership said it is committed to improving the experiences of young people with SEND and families.

Marium Haque, Bradford Council’s Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: "We do understand that navigating services and support for children who have complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can sometimes be challenging for parents and carers.

"Nationally, there has been an increase in the number of requests for health assessments and treatment and Bradford reflects a similar position. This means that diagnosis can sometimes take longer than expected. 

"A key area we are looking to improve is working more closely with children and families so we can respond more quickly to their needs and we have recently appointed a SEND children’s participation officer to help with this."

A Government spokesperson said it is making a significant investment into the high needs budget, worth £10.1 billion by 2023/24.

That figure is 50 per cent higher than four years ago, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said: “Every child deserves to have access to education that meets their needs. 

“Our recent Improvement Plan will reform the support system for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, prioritising earlier intervention and creating consistent high standards across the country.”