HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 cc38-9W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Leeds, West aged(a) 0 to 5, (b) 5 to 11, (c) 11 to 16 and (d) 16 to 18 were diagnosed as having (i) severe learning difficulties and (ii) moderate learning difficulties at the latest date for which figures are available. [83473]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The information requested is not collected centrally at the moment.

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 Education Needs (SEN). It is likely that schools and local education authorities will be asked to provide this information from January 2004.

The available information on the total number of pupils with SEN in Leeds, West parliamentary constituency is shown in the table.

Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN)—January 2002—Leeds, West parliamentary constituency
Under 5 Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 16 and over Total
Pupils with statements of SEN
Maintained primary schools 15 157 1 0 173
Maintained secondary schools 0 0 190 6 196
Maintained special schools 6 30 134 24 194
Total maintained schools 21 187 325 30 563
SEN pupils without statements
Maintained primary schools 161 1,495 2 0 1,658
Maintained secondary schools 0 0 841 20 861
Maintained special schools 0 0 0 0
Total maintained schools 161 1,495 843 20 2,519

Source:

Annual schools census.