The Department for Education has released its latest statistics for the 2025/2026 academic year, revealing a continued and significant rise in the number of pupils in England identified as having special educational needs (SEN). The figures show increasing demand for support across all school phases, with notable growth in Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.
Over 1.8 million pupils now identified with SEN
There are now over 1.8 million pupils in England with SEN, representing an increase of 91,400 pupils (5.2%) since 2025. This total includes both children with an EHC plan and those receiving SEN support without a plan. The data confirms that the upward trend seen since 2016 shows no sign of slowing.
Significant growth in EHC plans
The number of pupils with an EHC plan has risen to 538,547, an increase of 11.6% from 2025. This means that 6.0% of all pupils in England now have an EHC plan, up from 5.3% the previous year.
An EHC plan is a legal document setting out a child or young person’s education, health and care needs, along with the support required to meet those needs. These figures include pupils across all types of schools, including state-funded nurseries, primary and secondary schools, special schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, and independent schools.
The data also highlights a long-term trend: the number of pupils with EHC plans has more than doubled since 2016, and they now represent 29.0% of all pupils with SEN, compared to 19.3% in 2016.
Increase in SEN support
Alongside EHC plans, the number of pupils receiving SEN support without an EHC plan has risen to 1,319,780, marking an increase of 2.8% since 2025. This group now accounts for 14.8% of the pupil population, up from 14.2% last year.
Although the rate of growth in SEN support is lower than for EHC plans, the long-term picture remains significant, with a 33.0% increase since 2016.
More pupils with EHC plans in mainstream schools
The data also shows a continuing shift towards mainstream education. The proportion of pupils with an EHC plan attending mainstream schools (state-funded primary and secondary) has increased to 57.8%, up from 56.2% in 2025. This reflects the ongoing emphasis on inclusion, as well as the pressures on specialist placements.
A system under pressure
While the overall pupil population has grown by 4.2% since 2016, the number of pupils with SEN has increased at a much faster rate. This means that a higher proportion of children than ever before require additional support.
For families, this can translate into longer waiting times, increased challenges in securing appropriate provision, and the need to navigate complex legal processes to ensure children receive the support they are entitled to.
How Enable Law can help
At Enable Law, our specialist education law team has over 25 years of experience helping children and young people access the support they need to achieve their full potential.
We support families at every stage of the process, including:
- Securing an EHC plan
- Challenging parts of an EHC plan that do not meet a child’s needs
- Advising on school placements, including independent and specialist provision
- Representing families at appeals before the SEND Tribunal
We also work closely with a network of experts and independent schools, helping families understand the full range of options available. As part of the wider Enable Law team, we can draw on expertise in areas such as mental capacity law and best interests decision-making, particularly where children have complex needs.
Our approach is always to listen carefully to parents and young people, providing clear, practical advice to help resolve issues with local authorities and schools.
If you want to have a free, confidential discussion with a member of our education team call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can give you a call at a time convenient to you.
