See answers to previous information requests

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information regarding care and education for children with special educational needs (SEN).

We are aware of data published by the Department for Education. However, the 'Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England' data set (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen), doesn't provide any granular breakdown by primary type of SEN need. We are also aware of the 'Special education needs in England' data set (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen), which includes the number of pupils with SEN by primary type of need, however, this data set excludes independent special schools, meaning that it cannot be directly correlated with the 'Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England' data set.

For questions 2 through 8, please supply the following information for the financial years 2019/20 to 2022/23, and where possible, budgeted or projected figures available for 2023/24. Please note that ‘all ‘Special School’ categories’ includes state-funded nursery, primary, and secondary special schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, and independent special schools. Please note the category of ‘Learning Disability’ includes those with MLD, SLD, and PMLD.

1. Please could you supply the name, job title, email address and telephone number of the commissioner with responsibility for children’s SEN placements.
Carey Tulloch, Senior Commissioning Specialist. carey.tulloch@wokingham.gov.uk. 0118 974 6000.

2. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan with a;
a) Learning disability
2020: 251
2021: 275
2022: 287

b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
2020: 442
2021: 515
2022: 583

c) SEMH
2020: 215
2021: 253
2022: 322

3. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan with a learning disability of;
a) Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
2020: 97
2021: 120
2022: 135

b) Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
2020: 96
2021: 99
2022: 94

c) Profound Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD)
2020: 38
2021: 37
2022: 35

4. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan in all 'Special school' categories with
a) Learning disability
2020: 124
2021: 125
2022: 126

b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
2020: 136
2021: 152
2022: 178

c) SEMH
2020: 68
2021: 64
2022: 66

5. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan in a 'Special school: independent special school' only with a;
a) Learning disability
2020: 6
2021: 1
2022: 5

b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
2020: 18
2021: 4
2022: 23

c) SEMH
2020: 24
2021: 1
2022: 14

6. Please provide the Local Authority’s total expenditure on SEN placements in 'Special school: independent special schools'
2020/21: £4,710,388.00
2021/22: £6,053,297.00
2022/23: £5,509,848.00

7. Of the total number of children and young people with a statement of SEN or EHC Plan who are attending all ‘Special School’ categories, please provide the number that are placed out of area (i.e. outside the LA boundary) with a;
a) Learning disability
2020: 28
2021: 29
2022: 27

b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
2020: 54
2021: 61
2022: 70

c) SEMH
2020: 36
2021: 37
2022: 36

8. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan in a 'Special school: independent special school' that are in day placements (no boarding component) and 38/52-week placements;
a) Day placements
b) 38/52-week placements
Whilst the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains an EHC Plan in a 'Special school: independent special school' has been provided (as per question 5), the data is not currently recorded in a way that is accessible to answer Question 8. This will be addressed by the Council moving forward.