Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the (a) number of children with special educational needs not enrolled in a school and (b) effect of those not so enrolled on their development.

All children of compulsory school age, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to a full-time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs (SEN) they may have.

The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to work with parents, children, and providers to keep the provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) under review. Local authorities have a duty to provide suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion or other reasons, would not get suitable education without such provision. The education that is arranged must provide full-time education, unless this would not be in a pupil’s best interests because of their health needs.

Data on the placement of children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan is published in table 1 of the ‘Statements of SEN and EHC Plans, England’ statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2018.