New statistics for 2024-2025 released for Special educational needs in England
The UK Government has released new statistics representing the figures on pupils with special educational needs (SEN) including their type of SEN provision, type of need, age, national curriculum year group, sex, ethnicity, English as a first language and free school meal eligibility.
Key headlines:
Over 1.7 million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN)
This is an increase of 93,700 (5.6%) pupils since 2024. This includes the number of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan and the number of pupils with SEN support, both of which continue the trend of increases since 2016.
- The percentage of pupils with an EHC plan has increased to 5.3%, from 4.8% in 2024.
- The percentage of pupils with SEN support (no EHC plan) has increased to 14.2%, from 13.6% in 2024.
The most common type of need for those with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder and for those with SEN support is speech, language and communication needs.
The number and percentage of pupils with SEN has continued to rise
The number of pupils with an EHC plan increased by 11.1% between 2024 and 2025 to 483,000, and doubled since 2016. The number of pupils with SEN support has increased by 3.7% from 2024 to 2025, and by 29.5% since 2016. Since 2016, the total pupil population increased by 5.5%, meaning that there are proportionally more pupils with an EHC plan or SEN support.
The percentage of pupils with an EHC plan increased to 5.3% in 2025, continuing a trend of increases since 2016. Prior to 2016, the rate had remained steady at 2.8% (opens in a new tab).This is in line with local authority data on the number of EHC plans.
The percentage of pupils with SEN support increased to 14.2%, also continuing the increasing trend from 2016.
There is an increasing trend in the proportion of pupils with SEN that have an EHC plan; 27.3%, an increase from 19.3% in 2016.
The proportion of pupils with SEN has increased in most school phases
- In nursery, 18.8% of pupils have an EHC plan or SEN support, a decrease from 19.5% in 2024.
- In primary, 18.2% have an EHC plan or SEN support, an increase from 17.1%.
- In secondary, 16.5% have an EHC plan or SEN support, an increase from 15.16%.
- In state-funded Alternative Provision (AP), 83.4% have an EHC plan or SEN support, an increase from 82.2%.
- In independent schools, including independent special schools, 24.1% have an EHC plan or SEN support, an increase from 22.3%.
Primary schools saw the largest increase in the number of EHC plans, with an additional 21,000 pupils with plans since 2024.
The number of pupils with SEN support in state-funded AP schools has increased, however the percentage of pupils with an SEN support has decreased from 58.1% to 57.1%. This is driven by larger increases in the number of pupils in state-funded AP schools with an EHC plan.
The percentage of all pupils with an EHC plan who are in mainstream schools (state-funded primary and secondary) has increased from 54.4% to 56.2% in 2025, which continues the trend since 2018.
All data quoted from original report released 12th June 2025. Explore the full data set by visiting: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2024-25
Implications for mental health in education
These statistics highlight significant implications for mental health over the next 12 months with over 1.7 million pupils in England reported to have SEN, showing a continuing upward trend since 2016. Crucially, social, emotional and mental health needs are identified as the second most common primary need for pupils receiving SEN support. This, coupled with the overall increase in both SEN support and Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, points to a growing demand for robust mental health provisions within schools. Additionally, pupils with SEN are more likely to be eligible for free school meals, suggesting potential socioeconomic influences on these needs. These trends will likely place continued pressure on educational resources to address student well-being comprehensively.
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