DfE today published the annual report based on the school census data of SEN.
They can be found here; https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2025-26
Key Points;
- The percentage of pupils with an EHC plan has increased to 6.0%, from 5.3% in 2025 an 11.6% increase from the previous year to 538,547 pupils with an EHCP.
- The percentage of pupils with SEN support (no EHCP) has increased to 14.8%, from 14.2% in 2025, with 1,319,780 at SEN Support.
These figures show a greater proportional rise than the rise in the school population since 2016.
Pupils with an EHC plan account for an increasing proportion of pupils with SEN; 29.0% of pupils in 2026, up from 19.3% in 2016.
The number of children with Hearing Impairment and an EHCP increased from 6,398 in 2025 to 6,440 in 2026, while the number of children at SEN support increased from 17,396 to 17,474 over the same period.
The number of children with Vision Impairment and an EHCP increased from 3,921 to 4,067, but those on SEN support fell from 9,544 to 9,468.
The number of children with MSI and an EHCP increased from 1,352 to 1,392 and those on SEN support decreased from 3,278 to 3,092.