§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children with learning disabilities are educated in mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [170608]
§ Margaret HodgeThe provisional figures from the pupil level annual schools census for January 2004, published on 29 April, show that 148,200 pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs are being educated in maintained mainstream nurseries, primary schools or secondary schools.
The provisional figures also show that 1,137,600 pupils with SEN but without statements are being educated in maintained mainstream nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools.
Section 312 of the Education Act 1996 states that children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.