Main text: SFR17/2016
Contact: Email: SEN.statistics@education.gsi.gov.uk Press office: 020 7783 8300 Public enquiries: 0370 000 2288
Statements of SEN and EHC plans England: 2016
Sfr 17/2016, 26 May 2016
The total number of statements and EHC plans has continued to increase
There were 74,210 statutory EHC plans and 182,105 statements maintained by local authorities at January 2016.
This gives a combined total of 256,315. The combined total of statements and EHC plans has increased each year since 2010.
There were 24,655 new EHC plans made in 2015
There were 24,655 new EHC plans and 3,270 new statements made during 2015 giving a combined total of 27,925.
The combined number of statements and EHC plans made during 2015 is greater than 2014 but lower than 2013.
18.2% of statements in place at January 2015 have transferred to EHC plans
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Statements and EHC plans in place
Statements EHC Plans
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
New statements and EHC plans
Statements EHC plans
Between January 2015 and January 2016 there were 42,005 transfers from statements to EHC plans. When accounting for null returns, this is equal to 18.2% of statements in place in January 2015.
The period for local authorities to transfer statements to EHC plans began in September 2014 and is due to end by April 2018.
18.2%
Contact: Email: SEN.statistics@education.gsi.gov.uk Press office: 020 7783 8300 Public enquiries: 0370 000 2288
Contents
1. Statements of SEN and EHC plans in place ................................................... 3
2. New statements and EHC plans issued during 2015 ..................................... 5
3. Assessment process ...................................................................................... 6
4. Statements of SEN and EHC plans issued within the time limits ................... 6
5. Transfers from statements and learning difficulty assessments to EHC plans 7
6. Personal budgets and mediation cases ........................................................ 8
7. Traineeships, apprenticeships and supported internships .............................. 8
8. List of Tables ................................................................................................. 9
9. Further information is available .................................................................... 10
10. National Statistics ........................................................................................ 10
11. Technical information ................................................................................... 11
12. Get in touch ................................................................................................. 11
About this release
This statistical first release provides data from the annual SEN2 data return, which is mandatory for local authorities to complete. The return is the only source of data to report on all statements of SEN and EHC plans maintained by individual local authorites. The 2016 publication is the first statisitical first release to provide data covering a full year of the implementation of the 2014 special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms.
In this publication
The following tables are included in the Sfr:
• Main tables (Excel .xls)
The technical document, provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality and explains the methodology used in producing the data.
Feedback
We are changing how our releases look and welcome feedback on any aspect of this document at SEN.statistics@education.gsi.gov.uk
1. Statements of SEN and EHC plans in place (Table 1)
There were 74,210 statutory EHC plans and 182,105 statements maintained by local authorities at January 2016. This gives a combined total of 256,315. The combined total has increased year on year since 2010. The increase from 2015 to 2016 has been greater than previous years. This is likely to be due to the increase in age range covered by EHC plans. This is supported by the large increase in EHC plans for 16 to 19 -year-olds and 20 to 25 -year-old age groups. EHC plans made up 29.0% of the combined total of statements and EHC plans.
Figure A: Number of statements and EHC plans maintained by local authorities England 2010-2016
Source: SEN2 2010-2016
Special educational needs and disability reforms
In September 2014 the special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms came into effect as part of the Children and Families Act 2014. From 1 September 2014, any children or young people who are newly referred to a local authority for assessment are considered under the new EHC plan assessment process. The legal test of when a child or young person requires an EHC plan remains the same as that for a statement under the Education Act 1996.
January 2016 marked just over one third of the way through the transition period for local authorities to transfer statements to EHC plans, which is due to end by April 2018.
Children aged 11 to 15-years-old made up the largest proportion of children and young people with statements (49.7%) and combined statements and EHC plans (43.4%), however 5 to 10-year-olds made up the largest proportion of EHC plans (31.8%). Children under 5 years of age made up just 1.1% of children and young people with statements but 11.5% of children and young people with EHC plans. This could be because children in this age group are more likely to have entered the system after September 2014, so would have been assessed under the new system for an EHC plan instead of a statement.
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Statements EHC Plans
Figure B: Percentage of EHC plans and statements in place in January 2016 by age group. England 2016
Age Statements (total 182,105
EHC plans (total 74,210)
Combined statements and
EHC plans (total 256,315) Under 5 years of age 1.1% 11.5% 4.1%
Aged 5-10 37.7% 31.8% 36.0%
Aged 11-15 49.7% 28.0% 43.4%
Aged 16-19 11.6% 27.3% 16.1%
Aged 20-25 n/a 1.4% 0.4% 100% 100% 100.0% Source: SEN2 2016
The distribution of the combined total of statements and EHC plans among most age groups has remained broadly consistent since 2010; however there has been a significant increase in the proportion of children and young people with either a statement or EHC plan in the 16 to 19-year-olds age group. There has been a slight decrease in the total number of statements or EHC plans in 11-15 age group since 2010, however, this is broadly in line with national population trends in that age group ( for more information see office of national statistics population estimates, 2009-2014).
Figure C: Age breakdown for the number of combined statements and EHC maintained by local authorities England 2010-2016
Source: SEN2 2010-2016
At January 2016, 46.7% of children with a statement or EHC plans attended state funded mainstream schools, 40.5% attended state funded special schools and a further 4.0% attended independent special schools. The remaining 8.9% of children and young people attended other establishment types (such as further education colleges), or were educated through other arrangements.
While there has been some change in the distribution between mainstream schools, special schools and other establishments, the change in coverage for both age and establishment type reported in this publication means it is difficult to make comparisons with previous years.
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Under 5 years of age Aged 5-10 Aged 11-15 Aged 16-19 Aged 20-25
2. New statements of SEN and EHC plans issued during 2015 (Table 2)
There were 3,270 new statements and 24,655 new EHC plans issued in the 2015 calendar year. This gives a combined total of 27,925. This figure is greater than in 2014, but lower than 2012 and 2013. A further 43,790 statements and Learning Disability Assessments (LDAs) were transferred to EHC plans during 2015.
Although no new assessments for statements should have commenced after 31st August 2014, we expected some new statements to be issued in 2015 as there would be cases where the assessment for a statement began prior to 31st August 2014, but the statement was not issued until 2015.
Figure D: Number of new statements or EHC plans issued by local authorities. England: 2009-2015 (calendar years)
Source: SEN2 2010-2016
The greatest proportion of new statements or EHC plans has consistently been among 5 to 10-year-olds since 2009; however there has been a slight reduction in the total number of new statements or EHC plans made in this age group in the last year, from 12,845 to 12,455. The 16 to 19-year-old age group had the greatest proportionate increase in newly made statements or EHC plans, from 260 in 2014 to 1,305 during 2015.
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Statements EHC plans
Figure E: Age break down of new statements and EHC plans issued by local authorities. England: 2009-2015 (calendar year)
Source: SEN2 2010-2016
Children and young people attending state funded mainstream schools made up 59.2% of all new statements and EHC plans issued during 2016, 26.4% attended state funded special schools and a further 2.6% attended independent special schools. The remaining 11.8% were educated elsewhere.
3. Assessment process (Table 2 and 7)
During 2015, there were 29,015 children and young people who received an assessment where a decision was made whether or not to issue a statement or EHC plan. Of these, 96.2% received a statement or EHC plan (27,925 children and young people). At January 2016 a further 9,965 children and young people were either still being assessed, or had completed the assessment but a decision had not yet been made whether to issue an EHC plan.
During 2015, there were 10,935 initial requests for an assessment for an EHC plan that were refused, an increase from 8,870 initial requests for assessments for statements or EHC plans that were refused in 2014. This increase can be partially accounted for by an overall increase in the number of requests for an assessment. The number of initial requests for a statement or EHC plan that were refused was a new data item in 2015 so further time series comparison is not possible.
4. Statements of SEN and EHC plans issued within the time limits (Table 8 & 9)
Time limits
The 0-25 SEND code of practice states that the whole process of EHC needs assessment and EHC plan development, from the point when an assessment is requested (or a child or young person is brought to the local authority’s attention) until the final EHC plan is issued, must take no more than 20 weeks. This is a shorter time limit than the 26 weeks previously given for the completion of statements. The special education needs and disability regulations allow for exceptions to the time limits in certain cases.
Of the statements made during 2015 (excluding cases where exceptions apply), 46.5% were issued within the 26 week time limit. This figure is lower than in 2014 where 89.0% were issued within the time limit. A lower figure is to be expected for 2015 than 2014 since new assessments for a statement should not have occurred after September 2014. Therefore, those statements that were issued in 2015 will be cases that took longer to complete.
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Under 5 years of age Aged 5-10 Aged 11-15 Aged 16-19 Aged 20-25
Of the new EHC plans made during 2015 (excluding cases where exceptions apply), 59.2% were issued within the 20 week time limit. This has reduced from last year when 64.3% were issued within the time limit. The percentage of EHC plans completed within the time limit is lower than the percentage of statements issued within the time limit in previous years. We would expect local authorities to take time to adjust to the new system, in particular, the addition of health and care elements.
There is a large variation between local authorities which is also reflected at a regional level. For example, in the outer London region, 71.1% of EHC plans were issued within 20 weeks whereas only 47.5% were issued within 20 weeks in the East of England. It should be noted however that there is no management at regional level.
Figure F: Percentage of EHC plans issued within 20 weeks by region (excluding cases where exceptions apply) England: 2015 (calendar year)
Region
Number of EHC plans
issued during 2015 (excluding exceptional
cases)
Percentage of new
EHC plans issued
within 20 weeks (excluding exceptional
cases) Outer London 2,690 71.1 Inner London 925 70.2 North East 1,350 65.8 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,535 61.0 South West 2,050 60.3 England 19,710 59.2 North West 2,295 58.2 East Midlands 1,640 58.1 South East 2,615 56.8 West Midlands 2,065 51.8 East of England 2,545 47.5 Source: SEN2 2016
5. Transfers from statements of SEN and learning difficulty assessments (LDAs) to EHC plans (Table 10)
Transferring children and young people with statements and young people receiving support as a result of a learning difficulty assessment (Lda) to EHC plans will be phased. Timescales are set out in Transition to the new 0 to 25 special educational needs and disability system: Departmental advice for local authorities and their partners (March 2015). Every local authority has published a Local Transition Plan setting out the timings for transfers to the new system.
One local authority was not able to return information on transfers throughout 2015. As a result, the number and percentage of transfers reported in this section include the number of reported transfers only. The number of statements maintained by this local authority at 2015 has been removed when calculating percentages transferred nationally.
At January 2015 there were 235,980 statements maintained by local authorities in England. By January 2016, a total of 42,005 (18.2%) of these statements had been issued with an EHC plan and 2,740 were assessed and a decision was made not to issue an EHC plan. During the year, 93.9% of children and young people with statements who were assessed for a transfer and a decision had been made whether or not to issue, were issued with an EHC plan.
The number of LDAs and the percentage of LDAs transferred to EHC plans have been published as experimental statistics this year.
This is due to potential data quality issues. For more information, see the technical document.
Experimental statistics are defined in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics as ‘new official statistics undergoing evaluation. They are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development and as a means to build in quality at an early stage’. For more information on experimental statistics please visit the UK Statistics Authority website.
Local authorities reported that at 15 January 2015 there were 32,180 young people with LDAs in place. Of these young people, 1,785 were issued with an EHC plan between 15 January 2015 and 21 January 2016 (5.5%). During the same time period, 855 young people with LDAs were assessed and a decision was made not to issue and EHC plan. Approximately 67.6% of young people with an Lda, who were assessed and a decision made whether or not to issue, were issued with an EHC plan.
6. Personal budgets and mediation cases (Table 11)
There were 2,205 personal budgets in place for EHC plans issued and reviewed during 2015. There is quite a large variation between local authorities in the level of take up of personal budgets. This may be linked to a difference in policy towards their use. While some local authorities may actively encourage families to take up the budgets, other local authorities have fed back that they would aim to provide the facilities families need within the local area in order to avoid the need for personal budgets.
Personal budgets
A personal budget is an amount of money identified by the local authority to deliver provision set out in an EHC plan where the parent or young person is involved in securing that provision.
Personal budgets are optional for the child’s parent or the young person but local authorities are under a duty to prepare a budget when requested. Local authorities must provide information about organisations that may be able to provide advice and assistance to help parents and young people to make informed decisions about personal budgets.
For more information on personal budgets, see 0-25 SEND code of practice.
The number of personal budgets and the number of direct payments and organised arrangements have been reported as experimental statistics for 2016.
This is due to potential data quality issues. See technical document for more information.
There were 1,400 mediation cases held during 2015. Of these mediation cases, 345 cases were followed by appeals to the tribunal. One local authority was not able to provide the number of tribunal cases held. This local authority has been removed from calculation of the percentage of mediation cases that went on to tribunal. 24.9% of mediation cases held during 2015 were followed by an appeal to the tribunal in 2015. It is possible that some mediation cases in 2015 could have been followed by appeal to the tribunal in 2016 which would not have been recorded in this collection.
7. Traineeships, apprenticeships and supported internships (Table 1&2)
The number of young people with statements or EHC plans who are undertaking traineeships, apprenticeships and supported internships was collected on a voluntary basis for the first time in 2016.
At the census date, there were 125 young people with either a statement or an EHC plan who were undertaking apprenticeships, 125 undertaking traineeships and 65 undertaking supported internships. 119 local authorities completed all or part of this section.
Of the young people who were issued with a statement or an EHC plan for the first time during 2015, 10 were undertaking an apprenticeship, 5 were undertaking traineeships and 10 were undertaking supported internships. 114 local authorities completed all or part of this section.
8. List of Tables
The following tables are available in excel format on the publication website: Special Educational Needs Statistics
Table 1 Placement of children and young people for whom local authorities maintain a statement or EHC plan
Table 2 Assessment and placement of children and young people with a new statement or EHC plan, and children with statements or EHC plans transferred or discontinued
Table 3 Number of children and young people with a statement or EHC plan maintained by each local authority
Table 4 Number of children and young people with a new statement or EHC plan by each local authority
Table 5 Placement of children and young people for whom local authorities maintain a statement or EHC plan
Table 6 Placement of children and young people with a new statement or EHC plan by each local authority
Table 7 Assessment process for statements and EHC plans, children and young people who have transferred establishment type, and children and young people whose statement or EHC plan has been discontinued
Table 8 New statements issued within 26 weeks
Table 9 New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks
Table 10 Progress transferring children and young people with statements and learning difficulty assessments (LDAs) to the new system
Table 11 EHC plans with personal budgets, mediation and tribunal cases, and employment of designated medical/clinical officer by local authority
When reviewing the tables, please note that:
We preserve confidentiality
The Code of Practice for Official Statistics requires we take reasonable steps to ensure that our published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality.
We round and suppress numbers and percentages
Numbers of children and young people have been rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers based on 1 or 2 children and young people have been suppressed.
Percentages are calculated on unrounded data and are rounded to the nearest 0.1. Percentages based on 1 or 2 children and young people in the numerator or the denominator have been suppressed.
Zeros have not been suppressed.
This suppression is consistent with the Departmental statistical policy which can be found at:
Departmental statistical policy.
And adopt symbols to help identify this
Symbols are used in the tables as follows:
. not applicable
.. not available
x suppressed figure
9. Further information is available
Previous publications Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England, was released as a separate publication for the first time in 2015.
Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England 2015
Data from earlier publications can be found as part of the special educational needs England publication.
Statistics: Special educational needs
Other SEN Statistical publications
Statistics on pupils with SEN, including information on educational attainment, destinations, absence, exclusions, and characteristics
Statistics: Special educational needs
SEND code of practice
Explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014
SEND code of practice: 0- 25 years
Special educational needs and disability regulations
Regulations supplement the procedural framework assessing a child or young person with special educational needs, and the procedure for making, reviewing, amending and ceasing to maintain an EHC plan
The Education (Special Educational Needs) (England) (Consolidation) Regulations 2001
Special educational needs and disability regulations 2014
Special educational needs and disability (SEND) information
Includes links to guidance and regulations about supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Special educational needs and disability (SEND)
10. National Statistics
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
meet identified user needs;
are well explained and readily accessible;
are produced according to sound methods, and
are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
The Department has a set of statistical policies in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
11. Technical information
A technical document accompanies this Sfr. This provides further information on the data sources, their coverage and quality and explains the methodology used in producing the data, including how it is validated and processed.
12. Get in touch
Media enquiries Press Office News Desk, Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.
Tel: 020 7783 8300
Other enquiries/feedback Rosanna White, Children’s services analysis and research division, Department for Education, Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT
Tel: 020 7227 5191 Email: SEN.statistics@education.gsi.gov.uk
© Crown copyright 2016
This publication (not including logos) is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
To view this licence:
visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk write to Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London, TW9 4DU
About this publication:
Enquiries: Rosanna White, Children’s services analysis and research division, Department for Education, Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT Tel: 020 7227 5191 Email: SEN.statistics@education.gsi.gov.uk
Reference: [Sfr 17/2016 ]
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