Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the provision of education, health and care plans to children in mainstream schools on the number of applications made to specialist schools.

The vast majority of children with special educational needs (SEN) have always been taught in mainstream schools and the Children and Families Act 2014 sets a presumption in law that all children, including those with SEN, should be taught in mainstream settings where possible.

The department recognises that some children and young people will need specialist support or a different environment.

Children and young people should only be educated in special schools where they have complex needs requiring an education, health and care (EHC) plan, and the needs assessment process identifies that specialist provision is required. The most recent data shows that, of all the new EHC plans issued in 2023, 74.9% named a mainstream school and 10.5% named a special school.

The department has been clear that a more inclusive education system is needed to give children and young people the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive. We want more children and young people to receive the support they need to achieve and thrive in their local mainstream school.