To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of children have special educational needs; and what forecasts there are for the likely percentage in future years. (196261)

Details of the percentage of children with special educational needs (SEN) are set out in the Statistical First Release “Special Educational Needs in England, January 2007” which was published on 26 June 2007 and is available from:

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml

In January 2007, 2.8 per cent. of pupils had a statement of SEN¹ and 16.4 per cent. of pupils had been identified as having special educational needs but without a statement². Figures based on the January 2008 school census will be published in due course.

The Department has not made recent estimates of the percentage of children with special educational needs (SEN) entering primary and secondary education in forthcoming years. Previous estimates of the total numbers with SEN are now out of date and will be updated later this year. These should be available in the autumn.

¹ Source: School Census. Published in table 1a of the Statistical First Release “Special Educational Needs in England, January 2007”.

² Source: School Census. Published in table 1b of the Statistical First Release “Special Educational Needs in England, January 2007”.