Academic year 2023/24

Special educational needs in England

Data guidance

Published

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Special educational needs in England’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in a new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in a new tab).

The publication methodology, available on the publication report, 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 the number of schools and pupils in:

  • state-funded primary schools
  • state-funded secondary schools
  • state-funded special schools
  • non-maintained special schools
  • state-funded alternative provision schools (includes pupil referral units, alternative provision academies and free schools)
  • independent schools

It includes information on:

  • pupil numbers, including, SEN provision, SEN type of need, sex, ethnicity, language and free school meals eligibility
  • school numbers, including resourced provision, SEN units and approved provisions (special schools only) 

The information is based on data collected via the pupil level spring school census, school level annual school census, general hospital schools census and alternative provision census.

File formats and conventions

Rounding

This dataset has not had suppression applied.

conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data. 

‘x’ Not applicable

‘z’ Not available

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.

Pupils in all schools, by type of SEN provision - including independent schools and general hospital schools - 2016 to 2024

Filename
sen_phase_type_new.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2023/24
Content

Number of pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools, AP schools and independent schools by SEN provision, type of need and school type

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ehc_planEHC plans
ehc_plan_percentEHC plans (percent)
hospital_schoolHospital school flag - Yes/No
phase_type_groupingPhase type of school - Phase (primary, secondary, special, AP school, independent)
sen_supportSEN support/SEN without an EHC plan
sen_support_percentSEN support/SEN without an EHC plan (percent)
total_pupilsHeadcount
type_of_establishmentSchool type detail - For example - academy converter, community school, independent special
Footnotes
  1. Includes state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools, state-funded alternative provision schools and independent schools
  2. Includes pupils with SEN support in state-funded schools and pupils with SEN without an EHC plan in Independent schools
  3. EHC plans also includes statements of SEN. Statements were phased out from 2014 to 2018

Age and Gender, by type of SEN provision and type of need - 2016 to 2024

Filename
sen_age_sex_tidy.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2023/24
Content

Number of pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and AP schools by SEN provision, type of need, age and sex.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
breakdownBreakdown
phase_type_groupingPhase type of school - Phase (primary, secondary, special, PRU, independent)
primary_needPrimary type of need - (ASD, HI, VI…)
pupil_countNumber of pupils
pupil_percentPercent of pupils
pupil_sen_statusSEN provision - EHC plan/Statement of SEN or SEN support/School Action/School Action plus
Footnotes
  1. EHC plans also includes statements of SEN. Statements were phased out from 2014 to 2018
  2. Includes state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools. Does not include independent schools.

Year group, by type of SEN provision and type of need - 2016 to 2024

Filename
sen_ncyear_.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2023/24
Content

Number of pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and AP schools by SEN provision, type of need and national curriculum year.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
nc_early_yearsEarly years
nc_early_years_percentEarly years (%)
nc_not_followedNational curriculum not followed
nc_not_followed_percentNational curriculum not followed (%)
nc_receptionReception
nc_reception_percentReception (%)
nc_year_1Year group 1
nc_year_1_percentYear group 1 (%)
nc_year_10Year group 10
nc_year_10_percentYear group 10 (%)
nc_year_11Year group 11
nc_year_11_percentYear group 11 (%)
nc_year_12Year group 12
nc_year_12_percentYear group 12 (%)
nc_year_13Year group 13
nc_year_13_percentYear group 13 (%)
nc_year_14Year group 14
nc_year_14_percentYear group 14 (%)
nc_year_2Year group 2
nc_year_2_percentYear group 2 (%)
nc_year_3Year group 3
nc_year_3_percentYear group 3 (%)
nc_year_4Year group 4
nc_year_4_percentYear group 4 (%)
nc_year_5Year group 5
nc_year_5_percentYear group 5 (%)
nc_year_6Year group 6
nc_year_6_percentYear group 6 (%)
nc_year_7Year group 7
nc_year_7_percentYear group 7 (%)
nc_year_8Year group 8
nc_year_8_percentYear group 8 (%)
nc_year_9Year group 9
nc_year_9_percentYear group 9 (%)
number_of_pupilsHeadcount
phase_type_groupingPhase type of school - Phase (primary, secondary, special, AP schools, independent)
primary_needPrimary type of need - (ASD, HI, VI…)
pupil_sen_statusSEN provision - EHC plan/Statement of SEN or SEN support/School Action/School Action plus
Footnotes
  1. EHC plans also includes statements of SEN. Statements were phased out from 2014 to 2018
  2. Includes state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools. Does not include independent schools.

FSM, Ethnicity and Language, by type of SEN provision and type of need - 2016 to 2024

Filename
sen_fsm_eth_lang_.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2023/24
Content

Number of pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and AP schools by SEN provision, type of need, free school meal eligibility, language and ethnicity.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ethnicity_any_other_asian_backgroundAsian - any other Asian background
ethnicity_any_other_asian_background_percentAsian - any other Asian background (%)
ethnicity_any_other_black_backgroundBlack - Any other Black background
ethnicity_any_other_black_background_percentBlack - Any other Black background (%)
ethnicity_any_other_ethnic_groupAny other ethnic group
ethnicity_any_other_ethnic_group_percentAny other ethnic group (%)
ethnicity_any_other_mixed_backgroundMixed - Any other mixed background
ethnicity_any_other_mixed_background_percentMixed - Any other mixed background (%)
ethnicity_any_other_white_backgroundWhite - any other White background
ethnicity_any_other_white_background_percentWhite - any other White background (%)
ethnicity_bangladeshiAsian - Bangladeshi
ethnicity_bangladeshi_percentAsian - Bangladeshi (%)
ethnicity_black_africanBlack - Black African
ethnicity_black_african_percentBlack - Black African (%)
ethnicity_black_caribbeanBlack - Black Caribbean
ethnicity_black_caribbean_percentBlack - Black Caribbean (%)
ethnicity_chineseAsian - Chinese
ethnicity_chinese_percentAsian - Chinese (%)
ethnicity_gypsy_romaWhite - Gypsy/Roma
ethnicity_gypsy_roma_percentWhite - Gypsy/Roma (%)
ethnicity_indianAsian - Indian
ethnicity_indian_percentAsian - Indian (%)
ethnicity_irishWhite - Irish
ethnicity_irish_percentWhite - Irish (%)
ethnicity_pakistaniAsian - Pakistani
ethnicity_pakistani_percentAsian - Pakistani (%)
ethnicity_traveller_of_irish_heritageWhite - Traveller of Irish heritage
ethnicity_traveller_of_irish_heritage_percentWhite - Traveller of Irish heritage (%)
ethnicity_unclassifiedUnclassified
ethnicity_unclassified_percentUnclassified (%)
ethnicity_white_and_asianMixed - White and Asian
ethnicity_white_and_asian_percentMixed - White and Asian (%)
ethnicity_white_and_black_africanMixed - White and Black African
ethnicity_white_and_black_african_percentMixed - White and Black African (%)
ethnicity_white_and_black_caribbeanMixed - White and Black Caribbean
ethnicity_white_and_black_caribbean_percentMixed - White and Black Caribbean (%)
ethnicity_white_britishWhite - White British
ethnicity_white_british_percentWhite - White British (%)
fsm_eligibleEligible for free school meals
fsm_eligible_percentEligible for free school meals (%)
fsm_not_eligibleNot eligible for free school meals
fsm_not_eligible_percentNot eligible for free school meals (%)
language_englishFirst language is known to be, or believed to be English
language_english_percentFirst language is known to be, or believed to be English (%)
language_otherFirst language is known to be, or believed to be, other than English
language_other_percentFirst language is known to be, or believed to be, other than English (%)
language_unclassifiedFirst language unclassified
language_unclassified_percentFirst language unclassified (%)
number_of_pupilsHeadcount
phase_type_groupingPhase type of school - Phase (primary, secondary, special, PRU (AP school), independent)
primary_needPrimary type of need - (ASD, HI, VI…)
pupil_sen_statusSEN provision - EHC plan/Statement of SEN or SEN support/School Action/School Action plus
Footnotes
  1. EHC plans also includes statements of SEN. Statements were phased out from 2014 to 2018
  2. Includes state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools. Does not include independent schools.

Secondary need, by type of SEN provision and type of need - 2016 to 2024

Filename
sen_secondary_need_.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2023/24
Content

Number of pupils in state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and AP schools by SEN provision, primary type of need and secondary type of need

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
number_of_pupilsHeadcount
phase_type_groupingPhase type of school - Phase (primary, secondary, special, PRU, independent)
primary_needPrimary type of need - (ASD, HI, VI…)
pupil_sen_statusSEN provision - EHC plan/Statement of SEN or SEN support/School Action/School Action plus
secondary_need_asdAutistic Spectrum Disorder
secondary_need_asd_percentAutistic Spectrum Disorder (%)
secondary_need_hiHearing impairment
secondary_need_hi_percentHearing impairment (%)
secondary_need_mldModerate Learning Difficulty
secondary_need_mld_percentModerate Learning Difficulty (%)
secondary_need_msiMulti-sensory Impairment
secondary_need_msi_percentMulti-sensory Impairment (%)
secondary_need_nsaSEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need
secondary_need_nsa_percentSEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (%)
secondary_need_othOther Difficulty or Disability
secondary_need_oth_percentOther Difficulty or Disability (%)
secondary_need_pdPhysical Disability
secondary_need_pd_percentPhysical Disability (%)
secondary_need_pmldProfound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
secondary_need_pmld_percentProfound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (%)
secondary_need_semhSocial, Emotional and Mental Health
secondary_need_semh_percentSocial, Emotional and Mental Health (%)
secondary_need_slcnSpeech, Language and Communications needs
secondary_need_slcn_percentSpeech, Language and Communications needs (%)
secondary_need_sldSevere Learning Difficulty
secondary_need_sld_percentSevere Learning Difficulty (%)
secondary_need_spldSpecific Learning Difficulty
secondary_need_spld_percentSpecific Learning Difficulty (%)
secondary_need_viVisual impairment
secondary_need_vi_percentVisual impairment (%)
Footnotes
  1. EHC plans also includes statements of SEN. Statements were phased out from 2014 to 2018
  2. Includes state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools. Does not include independent schools.