(UK) Middlesbrough: "Remarkable" increase in SPED over 3yrs expected to continue
- 9 hours ago
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The number of children in Middlesbrough issued an ‘education, health and care plan’ (EHCP) has increased substantially. In a matter of just three years, the sum of kids who have an EHCP has gone up by nearly 400, passing the 2,000 mark - which equates to around 6% of children in the town. . . .
At a meeting of the council’s children’s scrutiny panel, on Monday, April 20, MICA Councillor David Jackson asked about the “remarkable” increase in EHCPs issued, highlighting the rise from 1,659 in 2022 to 2,040 in 2025 - a hike of nearly 400 kids (or 23%) in just a matter of three years. The number is forecast to rise by an approximate further 100 over the next two years to reach a figure of 2,147 by 2027 - a near 500 increase over just five years.
It was confirmed this increase is a national trend, and Cllr Jackson asked Annabel Bates, the council's corporate director of children’s services, why this was happening. She said there are “lots of theories” - including that there had been an improvement in assessments, which would in turn increase the number of kids on plans, and there is also a better understanding within the system of how to access assessments.. . .
In spite of all of this, she said “nobody” has found the “real reason” why EHCPs and the diagnoses that lead to them have increased rapidly over the past few years - describing it as as “real national challenge”. Cllr Jackson asked if it could be a “hangover” from the coronavirus pandemic. Ms Bates responded that there is “a lot of evidence” to suggest that the impact of the pandemic on development has been “significant”.
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Approximately 6% of kids in Middlesbrough have an EHCP, which is higher than the national average, currently 5.3%. Around 15% of Middlesbrough’s overall education population is recognised as having SEND - comparable with national averages. Papers add that the majority of Middlesbrough children in out of area specialist provision have an EHCP, while pupils with SEND support will not have an EHCP. Nationally, the number of pupils with an EHCP has doubled since 2016, compared to a 5.5% increase in pupil numbers.
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