Special educational needs and disability : Understanding local variation in prevalence, service provision and support

There is a growing recognition of the variation between local authorities in the proportions of children with SEN, the apparent composition of these groups, and the nature and quality of services provided to support them. Local area data collected on children with SEN, particularly the termly School Census and the annual SEN2 return by local authorities, show differences in the number of children with SEN, the nature of their recorded conditions and the Code of Practice level of support they are receiving. This variation was highlighted by the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee which commented on a ‘postcode lottery’ or a ‘lottery of provision’, and reports by the Audit Commission and Ofsted which also highlighted variation in provision and standards

Special educational needs and disability: Understanding local variation in prevalence, service provision and support (Research Report DCSF-RR211)

This research study, undertaken by the NCB (National Children’s Bureau) and Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to explore the nature, extent and implications of local variation in special educational needs (SEN) prevalence and provision. The research considered hearing impairment and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as exemplar conditions