England’s largest teaching union, the NEU, says schools lack enough staff to make government SEND reforms work, warning that inclusion cannot be implemented “on the cheap.” The union argued that planned “inclusion bases” and associated funding do not close the staffing gap teachers say is required for mainstream inclusion. NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said survey responses show insufficient staff and workload remain major barriers, and he cautioned that the extra money would at most “soften the blow” of underfunding. The union also raised concerns about class sizes, training, and difficulties in accessing specialist support to identify needs and deliver effective assistance. The government has committed additional funding for the transition, including an inclusion fund and expert support for schools. But the NEU’s position is that it will not translate into enough personnel to sustain the reforms when rolled out. Even though this is a school-system development, it affects downstream higher education through student readiness, support models, and the accessibility expectations students carry into college.