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).

I am aware of data published by the Department for Education. However, the ‘Education, health and care plans' data set (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans) does not provide any granular breakdown by primary type of SEN need. I am 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 but excludes independent special schools, meaning that it cannot be directly compared or combined with the ‘Education, health and care plans' data set. Therefore, I would like to request the following information:

1. Please could you supply the name, job title, email address and telephone number of the commissioner with responsibility for children and young people’s SEN placements.

For questions 2 through 8, please supply the following information for the financial years 2020/21 to 2023/24, and where possible, budgeted or projected figures available for 2024/25.
Please note that ‘all ‘Special School’ categories’ is to include 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 Difficulty’ includes Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD), Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD).
Please note that ‘SEMH’ refers to Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs where children/young people have difficulties managing their behaviour. Typical characteristics include, but are not limited to: emotional regulation issues, social interaction difficulties, mental health conditions, and behavioural issues

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;
Learning difficulty (including MLD, SLD, PMLD, SpLD)
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEMH

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 learning difficulty that is;
Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD)
Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)

3. 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 difficulty
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEMH

4. 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;
Learning difficulty
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEMH

5. Please provide the local authority’s total expenditure on SEN placements in 'Special school: independent special schools'

6. Please provide the local authority’s total net expenditure on SEN placements in 'Special school: independent special schools' with a;
Learning difficulty
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEMH

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 local authority boundary) with a;
Learning difficulty
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEMH

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)
38 or 52-week placements (boarding component)