Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern (HL Deb col 567), how they reconcile the claim that the "majority of children who have an EHCP are in a special school" with their statistical release, Education, health and care plans, published on 26 June 2025 and updated on 12 January, which states that 43.6% of children with an EHCP are in mainstream schools compared to 30.4% in special schools.

During the oral statement repeat titled ‘Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ on 24 February 2026, in the department’s response to Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, I misspoke and said “the majority of children who have an EHCP are in a special school''. This should have read “the majority of children who have an EHCP are in mainstream schools.” A letter has been sent to Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle and deposited in the library (Reference: DEP2026-0391).