Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, please can I request the following information:

1. How many pupils under your local authority with EHCPs attend an Independent Special School*? Please provide breakdown by financial year – 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24.

2. How many Independent Special Schools are there in your local authority area?Please provide breakdown by financial year – 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24.

3. Please could you provide your local authority’s annual expenditure on fees for day pupils attending Independent Special Schools. If possible, could this be broken down into an average per pupil spend as well as a total spend. Please provide breakdown by financial year – 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24.

4. Please could you provide your local authority’s annual expenditure on fees for boarding pupils attending Independent Special Schools. If possible, could this be broken down into an average per pupil spend as well as a total spend. Please provide breakdown by financial year – 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24.

5. Currently, what are the three highest annual fees your local authority pays for a day pupil at an ISS (this school may be in a different area). If possible, please could you provide the names of the schools.

6. How many pupils, who have their fees paid for by the local authority, and attend an ISS have had their placement terminated by the school? Please provide breakdown by financial year – 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24.

*For the purpose of this request, I am using the term Independent Special School as those that identify as an Independent Special School in the DfE census. Please include both Section 41 and Non-Section 41 schools. These do not include Local Authority Maintained Schools or Academy Special Schools.