NEWS: Special Schools Overcrowded as Demand Soars

As reported by BBC News, thousands more pupils needed special school places than were available last year, with the system struggling to keep up despite government funding

There were 8,000 more secondary school pupils in special schools in England than places available for them last year, according to Department for Education (DfE) figures – a rise of 25% in 12 months.

About two-thirds of these schools were at or over capacity in 2023-2024, despite the number of special school places rising by 5,000.

On Thursday, the government said the £740m of funding investment it announced in December will create 10,000 new school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) within mainstream schools.

This is the second year figures on special school capacity have been collected by the Dfe.

It says the reason for the gap in provision is because of the number of schools at or over capacity. However, the figures may not reflect the current pupils attending special schools because of the different and changing needs for which schools cater.

It found there were 92,000 secondary places across special state schools in England, but about 100,000 secondary pupils on the roll in May 2024.

In a highly critical report earlier this year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found a Send system “in disarray”, “mired in red tape, lacking funding, and failing to produce value for money”.

The government is encouraging local authorities to help mainstream schools to set up more provision for children with Send within their own schools.

Fewer than one in 10 mainstream schools have SEN units or resourced provision which provide more intensive support for pupils, according to the DfE.

It hopes to reform the system to be more inclusive so children’s need can be identified and met at an earlier point in mainstream schools, and special schools can cater to those with the most complex needs.