To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many places there were in maintained special schools in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority. (247853)

Tables have been placed in the Library showing the number of pupils by type of school, including maintained special schools, in each local authority for the years 1999 to 2008.

The Department does not collect data on maintained special schools places but collects actual pupil numbers. In general, local authorities fund special schools on the basis of the number of pupils for which they will normally be expected to cater, whether or not the places are actually occupied. This enables a stable resource base to be maintained, while allowing for the admission of pupils whose needs are identified during the year.