Ofsted 's new report card system is "actively penalising" schools more inclusive of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), a headteachers' union has warned.

Analysis by the NAHT headteachers’ union of recent Ofsted inspections found one in five (20%) schools with above-average Send pupils were judged "needs attention" – the second-lowest grade – for attendance and behaviour.

This contrasts with just one in ten (9%) of schools with fewer Send pupils receiving the same assessment, the NAHT said.

The findings emerge after the government unveiled sweeping reforms to the Send system , aiming for greater inclusivity in schools.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the findings should “ring serious alarm bells” for the Government’s ambitions for more pupils with Send to learn in mainstream schools.

The union’s analysis of 662 Ofsted reports also found that a third of schools inspected where there were an above average number of pupils eligible for free school meals received a…