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Reporting year 2025
Education, health and care plans
Data guidance
Published
Description
This document describes the data included in the Education, health and care (EHC) plans National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data. The methodology document should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.
Coverage
This release provides information on various stages of the EHC plan process including:
The number of active EHC plans at January of the calendar year - this includes the number of plans by placement type, sex, ethnicity, age, the length of time the plan has been held and the age of the child or young person when the plan started.
The number of new EHC plans in the previous calendar year - this includes the number of plans by placement type, sex, ethnicity, age, etc etc - to add to
The number of requests for EHC needs assessmentin the previous calendar year- this includes the number of requests by sex, ethnicity, age at the time of request. Information is broken down by the outcome of the request and whether any mediation or tribunals were held connected to the outcome of the request. Information is also shown on the number of requests where the outcome was delivered within the statutory timeframe.
The number of EHC needs assessmentsin the previous calendar year- this includes the number of assessments by sex, ethnicity, age at the time of assessment. Information is broken down by the outcome of the assessment and whether any mediation or tribunals were held connected to the assessment and its outcome.
The type of primary need named in the plan - this is included for both all plans and new plans. It is broken down by placement type, sex, ethnicity, age, the length of time the plan has been held and the age of the child or young person when the plan started.
The number of plans issued with the statutory timeframein the previous calendar year- this is broken down by sex, age and ethnicity and includes both those where exemptions apply and where exemptions do not apply.
The number of EHC plans where a personal budget is in place - this is broken down by sex, age and ethnicity.
The number of work based placements - this is broken down by sex, age and ethnicity plus type of establishment attended. Information is given for supported internships, apprenticeships and traineeships. Information is given for both the number active as at January each year and the number which closed during the previous calendar year.
The number of residential placements - this is broken down by sex, age and ethnicity plus type of establishment attended. Information is given for those which are between 38 and 51 weeks duration and those which are of 51 weeks or more duration.
The number of annual reviews - this is broken down by sex, age and ethnicity plus type of establishment attended. Information is included by the outcome of the review.
The number of plans which ceased during the the previous calendar year - this is broken down by sex, age when the plan ceased and ethnicity. The reason why the plan ceased and the placement at the time of ceasing are also included.
Data sources
In 2023 the source of data on EHC plans changed. Prior to 2023 the data collection was local authority level with aggregated data being collected for a range of indicators and outcomes from each local authority.
In 2023 the collection changed to individual level. The local authority returns information on:
Each EHC needs assessments and its outcome
Each EHC needs assessment and its outcome
The content of all plans, the type of special educational need, setting named in plan, setting attended, the date the plan started or ceased and what annual reviews have taken place and features of the plan such as personal budgets and residential placements
Personal details of the child or young person with a request, assessment or plan in place
This individual level data is then aggregated to calculate national, regional and local authority totals.
The time series
This change in data source has necessitated a change in how figures are presented and how the time series of data is shown. Some data items collected in the pre-2023 aggregate collection are no longer available while the individual data now collected allows a much richer and increased range of detailed analysis to be produced. As such there has been a break in the time series. In 2014, changes to the SEN code of Practice (opens in a new tab) replaced statements of special educational needs (SEN) and Learning Difficulty Assessments (LDAs) with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. Those with a statement of SEN were converted to EHC plans. This process was completed by 2018. Therefore the time series included in this publication begins at 2019. Data for the years prior to 2019 remains available. The 2024 edition of this statistical release includes information on EHC plans prior to 2019 plus information on statements of SEN for each year from 2010.
This edition of the release includes an expanded range of analysis including those only possible with the change in data source. Where previous data exists figures have been given to provide a a time series of covering each of the 7 years from 2018/19.
File formats and conventions
The dataset and outputs have not had suppression or rounding applied
The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.
z - Not applicable
x - unavailable
Data files
All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.
Data files
All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.
Number of education, health (EHC) plans as at January each year
Filename
caseload.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2018/19 to 2024/25
Content
The number of EHC plans active at January each year. This is shown for the type of setting attended, broken down by current age, age when plan started, ethnicity, sex and how long the plan has been in place. Data is shown on an academic year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
ap_pru_academy
Alternative provision academies
ap_pru_free_school
Alternative provision free schools
ap_pru_la_maintained
Pupil referral units
ap_pru_total
Total alternative provision
AP_PRU_total_pc
Total percentage alternative provision
await_prov_2022
Awaiting provision (pre 2023 only)
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person with EHC plan - Filter by characteristics of child or young person with an EHC plan, years plan in place or the setting attended
ed_elsewhere
Total educated elsewhere
ed_elsewhere_pc
Total percentage educated elsewhere
ehcplans
Total number of EHC plans
elective_home_education
Elective home education
fe_total
Total further education and post 16
fe_total_pc
Total percentage further education and post 16
general_fe_tertiary_colleges
FE colleges and sixth forms
mainstream_academy
Mainstream academies
mainstream_academy_resourced_provision
Mainstream academies - resourced provision
mainstream_academy_senunit
Mainstream academies - SEN units
mainstream_free_school
Mainstream free schools
mainstream_free_school_resourced_provision
Mainstream free schools - resourced provision
mainstream_free_school_senunit
Mainstream free schools - SEN units
mainstream_independent
Mainstream independent schools
mainstream_la_maintained
Mainstream LA maintained schools
mainstream_la_maintained_resourced_provision
Mainstream LA maintained schools - resourced provision
mainstream_la_maintained_senunit
Mainstream LA maintained schools - SEN units
mainstream_total
Total mainstream schools
mainstream_total_pc
Total percentage mainstream schools
neet
Not in employment, education or training
neet_ntci
Not in education or training – notice to cease issued
neet_other
Not in education or training – other age groups
neet_other_csa
Not in education or training – compulsory school age
nm_early_years
Non maintained early years
nm_early_years_pc
Non maintained early years percentage
online_provider
Online providers
other_arrangements_la
Other arrangements made by LA
other_arrangements_parents
Other arrangements made by parents
other_placement_settings
Other types of placement
other_schools
Other school types
perm_ex_2022
Permanently excluded (pre 2023 only)
placement_unknown
Placement not recorded
placement_unknown_pc
Placement not recorded percentage
special_academy_free
Special academies and free schools
special_independent
Independent special schools
special_la_maintained
LA maintained special schools
special_non_maintained
Non maintained special schools
special_total
Total special schools
special_total_pc
Total percentage special schools
specialist_post_16_institutions
Specialist post 16 establishments
ukrlp_provider
UKRLP providers
w_settings
Welsh schools and establishments
Footnotes
Cambridgeshire and North East Lincolnshire were not able to return placements for significant numbers of plans for 2025. These are shown as "Not recorded".
Incudes those awaiting provision, those where a type of setting is specified in the EHC plan (e.g. special school) but no specific setting is named, those out of provision, and all other settings not otherwise listed.
Age is calculated based on the start date recorded for the EHC plan.
Figures for 2023/24 include the total number of EHC plans for Hackney and Peterborough. Both LAs submitted total figures but were unable to return individual level data. Figures do not therefore sum to the totals.
Number of education, health (EHC) plans as at January each year, by their primary type of need
Filename
sen_needs_all_plans.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2024/25
Content
The number of EHC plans active at January each year, by their primary SEN need. This is shown for the type of setting attended, current age, age when plan started, ethnicity, sex and length of plan. Data is shown on an academic year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
asd_pc
Autistic spectrum disorder (%)
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment requested - Filter by primary need recorded in EHC plan
ehc_plans
Total number of EHC plans
hi_pc
Hearing impairment (%)
mld_pc
Moderate learning difficulty (%)
msi_pc
Multisensory impairment (%)
number_asd
Autistic spectrum disorder
number_hi
Hearing impairment
number_mld
Moderate learning difficulty
number_msi
Multisensory impairment
number_need_unknown
Primary need is not recorded
number_oth
Other difficulty/disability
number_pd
Physical disability
number_pmld
Profound & multiple learning difficulty
number_semh
Social, emotional and mental health
number_slcn
Speech, language and communication needs
number_sld
Severe learning difficulty
number_spld
Specific learning difficulty
number_vi
Visual impairment
oth_pc
Other difficulty/disability (%)
pd_pc
Physical disability (%)
pmld_pc
Profound & multiple learning difficulty (%)
semh_pc
Social, emotional and mental health (%)
slcn_pc
Speech, language and communication needs (%)
sld_pc
Severe learning difficulty (%)
spld_pc
Specific learning difficulty (%)
unknown_pc
Primary need is not recorded (%)
vi_pc
Visual impairment (%)
Footnotes
EHC plans where the primary need is Down Syndrome are included under "other difficulty/disability".
Surrey submitted amended figures on the primary type of need following completion of the SEN2 data collection in 2025. The published figures include the amended totals they supplied. Information on characteristics for this authority is not therefore available.
The number of EHC plans which start each year. The number of new plans is shown for the type of setting attended, broken down by the age when the plan started, ethnicity and sex. Data is shown on a calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
ap_pru_academy
Alternative provision academies
ap_pru_free_school
Alternative provision free schools
ap_pru_la_maintained
Pupil referral units
ap_pru_total
Total alternative provision
AP_PRU_total_pc
Total percentage alternative provision
await_prov_2022
Awaiting provision (pre 2023 only)
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person with new EHC plan - Filter by characteristics of child or young person with a new EHC plan
ed_elsewhere
Total educated elsewhere
ed_elsewhere_pc
Total percentage educated elsewhere
elective_home_education
Elective home education
fe_total
Total further education and post 16
fe_total_pc
Total percentage further education and post 16
general_fe_tertiary_colleges
FE colleges and sixth forms
mainstream_academy
Mainstream academies
mainstream_academy_resourced_provision
Mainstream academies - resourced provision
mainstream_academy_senunit
Mainstream academies - SEN units
mainstream_free_school
Mainstream free schools
mainstream_free_school_resourced_provision
Mainstream free schools - resourced provision
mainstream_free_school_senunit
Mainstream free schools - SEN units
mainstream_independent
Mainstream independent schools
mainstream_la_maintained
Mainstream LA maintained schools
mainstream_la_maintained_resourced_provision
Mainstream LA maintained schools - resourced provision
mainstream_la_maintained_senunit
Mainstream LA maintained schools - SEN units
mainstream_total
Total mainstream schools
mainstream_total_pc
Total percentage mainstream schools
neet
Not in employment, education or training
neet_ntci
Not in education or training – notice to cease issued
neet_other
Not in education or training – other age groups
neet_other_csa
Not in education or training – compulsory school age
new_ehc_plans
Total number of new EHC plans
nm_early_years
Non maintained early years
nm_early_years_pc
Non maintained early years percentage
online_provider
Online providers
other_arrangements_la
Other arrangements made by LA
other_arrangements_parents
Other arrangements made by parents
other_placement_settings
Other types of placement
other_schools
Other school types
perm_ex_2022
Permanently excluded (pre 2023 only)
placement_unknown
Placement not recorded
placement_unknown_pc
Placement not recorded percentage
special_academy_free
Special academies and free schools
special_independent
Independent special schools
special_la_maintained
LA maintained special schools
special_non_maintained
Non maintained special schools
special_total
Total special schools
special_total_pc
Total percentage special schools
specialist_post_16_institutions
Specialist post 16 establishments
ukrlp_provider
UKRLP providers
w_settings
Welsh schools and establishments
Footnotes
Cambridgeshire and North East Lincolnshire were not able to return placements for significant numbers of plans for 2025. These are shown as "Not recorded".
Incudes those awaiting provision, those where a type of setting is specified in the EHC plan (e.g. special school) but no specific setting is named, those out of provision, and all other settings not otherwise listed.
Wakefield submitted aggregate information for new plans for 2022. The totals will therefore not match the sum of characteristics and placements information.
Number of new EHC plans during the calendar year, by their primary type of need
Filename
sen_need_newplans.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2024
Content
The number of new EHC plans each year, by their primary SEN need. This is shown for the type of setting attended, age when plan started, ethnicity, and sex. Data is shown on an calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
asd_pc
Autistic spectrum disorder (%)
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment requested - Filter by primary need recorded in EHC plan
ehc_plans
Total number of new EHC plans
hi_pc
Hearing impairment (%)
mld_pc
Moderate learning difficulty (%)
msi_pc
Multisensory impairment (%)
number_asd
Autistic spectrum disorder
number_hi
Hearing impairment
number_mld
Moderate learning difficulty
number_msi
Multisensory impairment
number_need_unknown
Primary need is not recorded
number_oth
Other difficulty/disability
number_pd
Physical disability
number_pmld
Profound & multiple learning difficulty
number_semh
Social, emotional and mental health
number_slcn
Speech, language and communication needs
number_sld
Severe learning difficulty
number_spld
Specific learning difficulty
number_vi
Visual impairment
oth_pc
Other difficulty/disability (%)
pd_pc
Physical disability (%)
pmld_pc
Profound & multiple learning difficulty (%)
semh_pc
Social, emotional and mental health (%)
slcn_pc
Speech, language and communication needs (%)
sld_pc
Severe learning difficulty (%)
spld_pc
Specific learning difficulty (%)
unknown_pc
Primary need is not recorded (%)
vi_pc
Visual impairment (%)
Footnotes
Surrey submitted amended figures on the primary type of need following completion of the SEN2 data collection in 2025. The published figures include the amended totals they supplied. Information on characteristics for this authority is not therefore available.
Number of requests for an EHC needs assessment, and the request outcomes
Filename
requests.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2019 to 2024
Content
The number of requests for an EHC needs assessment carried out each year. Figures are shown by the outcome of the request, if a mediation or a tribunal occurred, and if the process met the statutory timeframe. Data is shown on a calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment requested - Filter by characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment requested
mediation_related_request
Number of requests subject to mediation
request_assess_pc
Percentage of requests where LA decided to proceed with an assessment
request_not_assess_pc
Percentage of requests where LA decided not to proceed with an assessment
request_outcome_over_6_weeks
Number of requests where decision made after 6 weeks
request_outcome_over_6_weeks_pc
Percentage of requests where decision made after 6 weeks
request_outcome_six_weeks
Number of requests where decision made within 6 weeks
request_outcome_six_weeks_pc
Percentage of requests where decision made within 6 weeks
request_outstanding_pc
Percentage of requests ongoing
request_withdrawn_pc
Percentage of requests withdrawn
requests_decided_not_to_assess
Number of requests where LA decided not to proceed with an assessment
requests_decided_to_assess
Number of requests where LA decided to proceed with an assessment
requests_decision_not_made
Number of requests ongoing
requests_received_in_year
Total requests for an EHC needs assessment
requests_rya
Requests where child in relevant youth accommodation
requests_withdrawn
Number of requests withdrawn
tribunal_after_mediation_request
Number of requests where tribunal followed mediation
tribunal_related_request
Number of requests subject to a tribunal
Footnotes
Age on the date the request for the EHC needs assessment was received.
Number of EHC needs assessments, and the assessment outcomes
Filename
assessments.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2019 to 2024
Content
The number of EHC needs assessments carried out each year. Figures are shown by the outcome of assessment, whether a mediation or a tribunal occurred and whether the process met the statutory timeframe. Data is shown on a calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
assess_in_year
Total number of EHC needs assessments
assess_issued
Number of assessments where a plan was issued
assess_issued_pc
Percentage of assessments where a plan was issued
assess_not_issued
Number of assessments where a plan was not issued
assess_not_issued_pc
Percentage of assessments where a plan was not issued
assess_not_made
Number of assessments where the decision is outstanding
assess_not_made_pc
Percentage of assessments where the decision is outstanding
assess_withdrawn
Number of assessments where the request was withdrawn
assess_withdrawn_pc
Percentage of assessments where the request was withdrawn
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment carried out - Filter by characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC needs assessment carried out
number_assess_mediation
Number of mediations related to assessment decision
number_assess_tribunal
Number of tribunals related to assessment decision
number_asssess_mediation_tribunal
Number of tribunals following mediation related to assessment decision
number_other_mediation
Number of mediations related to assessment for other reasons
number_other_mediation_tribunal
Number of tribunals following mediations related to assessment for other reasons
number_other_tribunal
Number of tribunals related to assessment for other reasons
outcome_decision_over_time
Number of assessments where it was decided NOT to issue a plan which were over 16 weeks
outcome_decision_over_time_pc
Percentage of assessments where it was decided NOT to issue a plan which were over 16 weeks
outcome_decision_within_time
Number of assessments where it was decided NOT to issue a plan which were within 16 weeks
outcome_decision_within_time_pc
Percentage of assessments where it was decided NOT to issue a plan which were within 16 weeks
Footnotes
Age on the date the request for the EHC needs assessment was received.
Percentages of assessments only apply where a decision was made.
Timeliness - education, health and care plans issued within the statutory 20 week timeframe
Filename
timeliness_20_week.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2019 to 2024
Content
The number of plans issued and whether the issue of those plans met the statutory timeframe, both with, and without, exceptions applying. Data is shown on a calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person with EHC plan - Characteristics of child or young person for whom EHC plan issued
PC_plans_issued_20_weeks_ex
EHC plans issued within 20 weeks excluding exceptions - %
pc_plans_issued_gt_1_year
EHC plans issued after 52 weeks including exceptions - %
PC_plans_issued_gt_1_year_ex
EHC plans issued after 52 weeks excluding exceptions - %
pc_plans_issued_gt20weeks_ltYear
EHC plans issued between 20 and 52 weeks including exceptions- %
PC_plans_issued_gt20weeks_ltYear_ex
EHC plans issued between 20 and 52 weeks excluding exceptions - %
pc_plans_issued_within_20_weeks
EHC plans issued within 20 weeks including exceptions - %
plans_issued_20_weeks_ex
EHC plans issued within 20 weeks excluding exceptions
plans_issued_den
Number of EHC plans issued including exeptions (denominator)
plans_issued_den_ex
Number of EHC plans issued excluding exeptions (denominator)
plans_issued_gt_1_year
EHC plans issued after 52 weeks including exceptions
plans_issued_gt_1_year_ex
EHC plans issued after 52 weeks excluding exceptions
plans_issued_gt20weeks_ltYear
EHC plans issued between 20 and 52 weeks including exceptions
plans_issued_gt20weeks_ltYear_ex
EHC plans issued between 20 and 52 weeks excluding exceptions
plans_issued_within_20_weeks
EHC plans issued within 20 weeks including exceptions
Footnotes
For the 2024 calendar year, Dorset and City of London have classed all new plans as having permitted exceptions to the 20 week statutory timeframe.
Number and outcome of annual reviews of education, health and care plans
Filename
annual_reviews.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2024
Content
The number of annual reviews which took place each year. Figures are shown for the outcome of the review, and whether the review outcome met the statutory timeframe. Data is shown on a calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of EHC plan for which annual review is expected - Filter by characteristics of child or young person, years EHC plan in place or the placement attended
no_outcome
Number where no outcome is recorded
no_review_meeting
Number with no annual review meeting recorded
number_decision_gt_4weeks
Number where outcome of review communicated after 4 weeks
number_decsion_4weeks
Number where outcome of review communicated within 4 weeks
outcome_amend
Number where decision was to amend the plan
outcome_cease
Number where decision was to cease the plan
outcome_maintan
Number where the decision was to maintain the plan
pc_decision_gt_4weeks
Percentage where outcome of review communicated after 4 weeks
pc_decsion_4weeks
Percentage where outcome of review communicated within 4 weeks
review_decision_not_due
Number where annual review decision not yet due
review_decision_outstanding
Number where annual review decision is outstanding
review_decision_prior24
Number where annual review decision recorded prior to 2024
review_decision24
Number where annual review decision recorded in 2024
review_decision25
Number where annual review decision recorded in 2025
review_expected
Number where annual review expected
review_meeting_24
Number where annual review meeting recorded in 2024
review_meeting_25
Number where annual review meeting recorded in 2025
review_meeting_prior_24
Number where annual review meeting recorded prior to 2024
review_not_expected
Number where annual review not expected
total_ehc_plans
Total number of EHC plans
total_review_meeting
Number with annual review meeting recorded
Footnotes
Blackpool and Reading were unable to return data on annual reviews in 2025. There are also queries regarding the quality of reviews data returned by Waltham Forest, Surrey, Redbridge, Hertfordshire and Plymouth. Data for these authorities has been suppressed pending further checks.
Number of EHC plans with a personal budget in place
Filename
personal_budgets.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2019/20 to 2024/25
Content
The number of EHC plans where there is personal budget in place. This is broken down by age, sex, ethnicity and the type of setting attended. Figures are shown as at January each year, on an academic year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of residential placements - Filter by characteristics of plan where personal budget is in place
org_arrangments
Number with organised arrangements
pb_education
Personal budget covers education only
pb_health
Personal budget covers health only
pb_integrated
Personal budget covers any combination of education, health and social care
The number of residential placements, broken down by age, sex, ethnicity and the type of setting attended. Figures are shown as at January each year, on an academic year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of residential placements - Filter by characteristics of child or young person with residential placements
Res_3851
Number of residential setting - between 38 and 51 weeks
The number of work based placements each year, by age, sex, ethnicity and the type of setting attended. Figures are shown as at January, on an academic year basis, and also work based placements which were active in the previous calendar year.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of young people with a work based placement - Filter by characteristics of child or young person, years EHC plan in place or the placement attended
Number of EHC plans which ceased during the calendar year
Filename
ceased_plans.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022 to 2024
Content
The number of plans which ceased each year, and the reason why they ceased. This is broken down by the age when the plan ceased, sex, ethnicity, length of time plan in place and the last setting attended. Data is shown on an calendar year basis.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
breakdown
Characteristics of child or young person where plan has ceased - Filter by characteristics of child or young person
deceased
Number where child or young person deceased
employ
Number moved to paid employment
he
Number moved to higher education
max_age
Number where maximum age reached
moved_outside_eng
Number who have moved outside England
needs_met
Number where educational or training needs met without a plan
no_engage
Number where young person no longer wishes to engage in education or training