ENGLAND: 500,000 MORE SPED kids in nine years; autism, speech, language most common

June 12, 2025, CYP Now: Pupil SEND numbers exceed 1.7mn

The number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has risen by 5.6% to more than 1.7 million, according to data released by the Department for Education today.

The figures for the 2024/25 academic year continue the trend of annual increases since 2016 when there were 1,228,785 children in this category, representing the total number of children either with an education, health and care (EHCP) or with SEN support.

With 1,777,924 children with support needs there are 93,700 more such pupils than in the previous academic year. 

The rate with SEN support only (no EHCP) has surged to 14.2% (1,284,284 pupils), from 13.6% in 2023/24.

The percentage of pupils with an EHCP has risen to 5.3% (482,640 pupils), from 4.8% the previous year.

The most common type of need for those with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder and for those with SEN support is speech, language and communication needs, said the DfE.