Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils are in independent special schools; and of that total how many pupils are in independent schools whose fees are not paid by a local authority.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

A total of 23,570 pupils attended independent special schools in England in 2022/23. This is 0.26% of the 9,073,832 pupils in England that year. There are a high proportion of pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans attending independent schools. There were 21,943 pupils at independent special schools in England in 2022/23 who had a EHC plan. The Department does not hold data on how many of the pupils attending independent schools have fees that are not paid by a local authority.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing funding for education, health and care plan support for children with SEND at independent schools.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Local authorities have the flexibility to place children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in independent schools. Where they choose to do so, the local authority must fund the cost of the placement. In January 2023, local authorities placed 21,324 children and young people in independent special schools and 6,337 in other independent schools.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of earmarking funding to local authorities for funding SEND school places at independent institutions.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Local authorities have considerable flexibility to use the high needs funding within their Dedicated Schools Grant allocations to fulfil their statutory duties. This includes using their high needs budgets to discharge their special educational needs duties under the Children and Families Act.

Local authorities are able to fund educational placements for children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in independent schools. Where they choose to name an independent special school on an EHC plan, the local authority must fund the cost of the placement.