Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of children in custody have special education needs.

Information on children in custody with special educational needs is collected on entry into custody by Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) and submitted to the Youth Custody Service (YCS) to inform placement decisions. Comprehensive screening and assessment is conducted for all Children and Young People across the youth justice system, allowing for early identification of needs and requirements to support their care. An initial assessment is made before the first night in custody to assess any immediate needs or requirements, this is then followed by further physical and mental health assessments.

Of those children entering custody during 2018/19, 30% were assessed as having special educational needs or disabilities. The data presented should be considered as an indication of the needs and risks of young people as they enter the secure estate, rather than formal clinical assessment. Further assessment of the educational needs of all children continues on induction using a screening tool, and throughout their time in custody.