HC Deb 03 April 2003 vol 402 cc820-2W
David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children per 1,000 are issued with a statement of special needs in(a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire. [105234]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

As at January 2002 there were 420 children attending schools in Haltemprice and Howden with statements of SEN. This equates to 26.7 pupils in every 1,000.

For East Riding of Yorkshire there were 1,264 pupils attending schools with statements of SEN which equates to 23.9 pupils in every 1,000.

This data is derived from Annual Schools' Census returns made by schools to the Department in January each year.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the gender ratio is of pupils(a) receiving special education and (b) statemented in mainstream schools, on account of emotional and behavioural difficulties; and if he will make a statement on (i) provision of places and (ii) appropriateness of educational experience among teachers in the light of that ratio. [105310]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The available information is shown in the table.

There is currently no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools' Census on the nature of such pupils' disability or learning difficulty. However, in June 2001, the Department carried out a pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schools on a broad range of types of Special Educational Needs (SEN). From January 2004 the Department is planning to ask schools and Local Education Authorities to provide this information.

Local Education Authorities and schools have statutory responsibilities under the Education Act 1996 to identify, assess and make appropriate provision for children with special educational needs, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Guidance on carrying out those responsibilities is given in the Speicial Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: Ratio Boys: Girls with Special Educational Needs January 2002 England
1Maintained Primary 1Maintained Secondary 2Maintained Special
SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements
Ratio boys: girls 1.8:1 2.5:1 1.7:1 2.6:1 2.3:1 2.1:1
1 Includes middle schools as deemed.
2 Excludes General Hospital Schools.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special needs status(a) primary and (b) secondary school children there were (i) in England and (ii) in the Buckingham constituency in 2002. [106018]

Mr. Miliband

The information requested is shown in the table.

Maintained primary and secondary schools: Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN): January 2002
Number of pupils with a statement of SEN Percentage of pupils with a statement of SEN2 Number of pupils with SEN without a statement Percentage of pupils with SEN without a statement2
Primary schools1
Buckingham constituency 96 1.3 969 13.1
England 70,729 1.6 834,143 19.1
Secondary schools1
Buckingham constituency 77 1.8 517 12.1
England 78,606 2.4 519,116 15.9
1 Includes middle schools as deemed
2 The number of pupils with and without statements expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll.

Local Education Authorities have a duty to secure sufficient schools for pupils in their area and in doing so much have particular regard to the need to secure special educational provision. It is up to Local Education Authorities to determine the pattern of provision in the light of local needs and circumstances.

Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools:

Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) By Gender1

January 2002 England
Maintained Primary1
SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
531,647 302,496 834,143 50,337 20,392 70,729
1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools:

Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) by Gender1

January 2002 England
Maintained Secondary1
SEN Pupils without statement Pupils with statements
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
323,323 195,793 519,116 56,477 22,129 78,606
1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) by Gender1
January 2002 England
Maintained Special2
SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
1,677 730 2,407 58,498 27,231 85,729
1 Includes middle schools as deemed.
2 Excludes General Hospital Schools