The proportion of children identified with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has grown over the past six years, following introduction of reforms to the system that were meant to make it easier for parents to access joined-up support.
The proportion of the overall pupil population identified as having a SEND has grown from 14.4 per cent in 2015/16 to 15.9 per cent in 2020/21. The majority of the 1.4 million children with SEND are classified as in need of SEN support, which covers less severe impairments. The number of children in this group has grown 9.1 per cent over the past six years, more than twice the rate of growth of the overall headcount of pupils over that period.
However, children with the most severe impairments are the group that has grown the fastest. These children require specialist intensive support that is detailed in education, health and care plans (ECHPs), which once assessed as being needed should be organised within 20 weeks. The number of pupils with EHCPs has swelled by 37 per cent over six years to 325,618 in 2021, nearly 10-times the overall headcount growth rate.
The reasons for the rise in the proportion of children with SEND are complex. Greater awareness among early years and education staff have helped improve identification of children whose learning needs would have previously gone unnoticed. There is also growing evidence to suggest that parents are encouraged to pursue an EHCP because it is the only way of securing intensive support due to a shortage of school funding at lower levels.
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