§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were assessed for special educational needs in each of the last five years in the United Kingdom and in Essex.
§ Mr. DunnInformation is not collected centrally on the number of children assessed for special educational needs. Before April 1983, local education authorities submitted annual returns of children ascertained under the Education Act 1944 as in need of special educational treatment. The 1981 Act, which came into effect in April 1983, replaced the ascertainment of children with procedures for making statements of their special educational needs. Transitional arrangements were made for the first year under the new Act and the authorities' returns for 1983 included both children ascertained under the 1944 Act and children with statements under the 1981 Act. The returns for 1984 onwards relate solely to children with statements.
Figures for 1981 to 1985 for England and Essex are as follows. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are responsible for special educator in their respective countries.
England Essex 1981 21,339 542 1982 21,521 609 1983 16,964 1,257 1984 28,227 733 1985 22,038 930 NoteThe figure for the number of statements made in 1985 is an estimate, based on incomplete returns.