More than 500,000 children now receiving statutory support for special educational needs in school with an EHCP, a new record high.
New statistics released by the Department for Education shows an 11.6% rise in the number of pupils with an EHCP this academic year, to 538,547
This is a rise from 482,640 in 2024-25. and now represents 6% of the total school population.
The number of pupils receiving SEN support but without an EHCP has also increased by 2.8%, to more than 1.3 million.
In total, around 1.8 million pupils in England have a SEND, up by 5.2% from last year.
The proportion of pupils with an EHCP in mainstream state-funded schools has increased from 56.2% in 2024-25, to 57.8%.
In primary schools, almost a fifth of pupils have an EHCP or receive SEND support, compared with 18.2% a year earlier. In secondary schools, the increase has been from 16.5% in 2025-25 to 17.6%.
‘Unsustainable’ demand
In a white paper published in February, the government called for more inclusion in mainstream schools, with most pupils have their needs met with individual learning plans and inclusion bases.
Only children with the most complex needs will have EHCPs in the future.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT,said the figures showed the extent to which families were struggling to find support for their children.
He added that schools “simply don’t have the funding, staff, space or specialist support to cope on their own with rising demand”.
“The government’s proposed reforms to this ailing system, including plans for more pupils to be supported in their local mainstream school, are welcome in principle.
“But many school leaders have concerns about the likely extra workload and the timeframes envisaged.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: “These figures show yet another rise in pupils with SEND, just a week after government reported a fall of 1,900 teachers in schools.
“The government wants to improve inclusion for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools, but the combination of high class-sizes and rising classroom need is unsustainable.”
