Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not being sufficiently protected from modern slavery, a study suggests.

The study, by researchers in Manchester and Portsmouth, notes a lack of national prevention strategy for this group and a dearth of funding and training.

More than 1.5 million children in England have a special educational need, yet many wait years for a diagnosis, and specialist forms of support.

Children and young adults with SEND are seen as especially vulnerable to grooming and exploitation, which often amounts to modern slavery.

In 2023, there were 7,432 referrals of potentially exploited children to the National Referral Mechanism, which assesses potential modern slavery cases.

More than half of referrals involved criminal exploitation, and 15% involved sexual exploitation. Anecdotal evidence suggests a high proportion of cases involve children with SEND.

Professor of Childhood Studies and lead researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, Anita Franklin, said:

“The research starkly indicates the need for parents and children and young people with SEND to be listened to when raising concerns about unmet needs and treated with paramount importance when they raise concerns about exploitation.

“The evidence illustrates the importance of agencies working together to understand and address the interplay of SEND and exploitation in terms of risk and response. The consequences of inadequate or inappropriate responses are having a devasting impact on children and families across the UK.

“We require joined up policy and guidance from national government, and resources and trained practitioners in order that appropriate prevention and responses address this child protection issue. Children and families have a right to be protected.”

Earlier this year, the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, expressed concern that insufficient money was being put towards fighting modern slavery, after the commissioner's budget was reduced.

Eleanor Lyons also criticised the low prosecution rates for modern slavery offences and advocated for recognising "cuckooing" — drug dealers exploiting vulnerable individuals' homes — as a form of modern slavery.

CARE campaigns for better support for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Find out more about our work at our cause page.