Published: September 2023
Headlines
- In Wakefield a total of 10,610 school age pupils have been identified as formally requiring extra help at school due to having special educational needs (SEN), 18.2% of the total pupil population.
- 7,895 pupils receive SEN Support (extra support usually within mainstream school) and 2,715 have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP, a formal plan of help for those with more complex needs) (2022/23). This is 18.2% of the pupil population.
- There is a trend of increasing numbers of children identified with special educational needs over the last five years in Wakefield as well as nationally.
- Most school age children in Wakefield with special educational needs attend mainstream schools or nursery (91.8%).
- The most common primary reason for receiving SEN Support in Wakefield was speech, language and communication need (23.5%). Of those children who have an EHCP autism was the most common primary need (33.5%).
- Some children with SEN have a secondary need which also requires support. When exploring secondary need in Wakefield 13% of children with SEN support had a secondary need and 49% of those with an EHCP
- Levels and types of special educational need can vary by year group, gender, ethnicity, free school meal status and for children requiring social care help.
- Children identified with special educational needs in Wakefield have lower academic outcomes and higher rates of exclusions and absence than pupils not identified as having special needs and a similar pattern is seen nationally.
- The Wakefield School Health Survey found that children who have SEN were more likely to be bullied and were less likely to feel happy with life at the moment than other pupils.
- Children with special educational needs may also have additional health needs which are supported by specialist schemes such as the Learning Disability Health Check and health services including Children’s Therapy Services, Community Health Services and the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
- Wakefield has a number of services to support children with special educational needs and their families many of which are listed on the Local Offer for Wakefield, these include tailored support for families and schools, short breaks and advice and schemes to help with the transition to adulthood.
- In September 2023 a more in depth report of special educational needs in Wakefield District was created and is available as a pdf document in the link at the bottom of this page.
NOTE: This page has been recently updated in September 2023 and some of the information available has changed, if you can’t find any information you need or would like to give feedback please contact the public health intelligence team, email: phi@wakefield.gov.uk
Introduction
Children and young people aged 0 – 25 have special educational needs (SEN) if they have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children and young people of the same age. Children can be identified as having special educational needs (SEN) requiring additional support in school for a wide number of reasons. Support needs to be tailored to each individual child. This may range from physical adjustments in the classroom, specialist equipment or having a dedicated teaching assistant in a mainstream school to requiring the attendance of a special school or other alternative provision. The Children and Families Act (2014) places a duty on Local Authorities to identify all children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) and disabilities in their area. The Act introduced reforms to the SEN system, detailed in the SEND Code of Practice (2015).
Early accurate identification for children and young people with SEND will enable joint partners from education, health and social care to ensure appropriate provision to meet their needs and improve outcomes for this group. There are two levels of support for children and young people with SEND who are considered to have additional needs. These are:
- SEN Support which consists of help given in addition to that provided by an educational settings usual curriculum and is deliverable with their delegated funding already available.
- Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for children and young people who need a greater level of help to make progress and may need to attend a special school. It is a single multi-agency plan that is put in place following a formal assessment. It is a statutory legal document for children and young people aged 0 – 25 who are in education, apprenticeship or training.
In the Code of Practice Children’s SEN are generally thought of in the following broad areas of need:
- Communication and interaction includes speech, language and communication need (SLCN) and Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- Cognition and learning – Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including:
- Moderate Learning difficulty (MLD)
- Severe Learning difficulty (SLD)
- Profound and Multiple Learning difficulty (PMLD)
- Specific Learning difficulty (SpLD)
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
- Sensory and/or physical needs includes vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), multi-sensory impairment (MSI) and physical disability (PD).
As well as requiring additional help and support in education children with special educational needs may also have additional health and social care needs and some will need additional support in other areas such as transition to adulthood.
This page gives an overview of special educational needs in Wakefield and compares this to the regional and national picture. It will also summarise some of the help and support provided in Wakefield to those with special educational needs and their families.
How does Wakefield District compare?…
Each year the Department of Education asks all schools to complete a school census on all pupils currently enrolled, this includes supplying data on the number of children with special educational needs. Across England in the 2022/23 academic year just over 1.57 million school pupils had SEN support or an EHCP in place. This is 17.3% of the total pupil population in England which is similar to the percentage in Wakefield (18.2%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (17.3%). The percentages of pupils identified with SEN across the Yorkshire and the Humber region and nationally has increased since 2017/18. The graph also shows the figures for Wakefield’s statistical neighbours (areas deemed to have similar characteristics to Wakefield District). Overall numbers of those receiving SEN Support or with an EHCP in Wakefield have increased since the 2017/18 academic year. In the current (2022/23) academic year 7,895 pupils had SEN Support and 2,715 an EHCP. This increase is due in part to the percentage of pupils identified with SEN going up as well as an overall increase in pupil numbers across the District. Overall numbers of those receiving SEN Support or with an EHCP in Wakefield have increased since the 2017/18 academic year. In the current (2022/23) academic year 7,895 pupils had SEN Support and 2,715 an EHCP. This increase is due in part to the percentage of pupils identified with SEN going up as well as an overall increase in pupil numbers across the District.
Numbers and Trends over time
In Wakefield the majority of pupils receiving both SEN support or with an EHCP and attending a school setting are at mainstream schools rather than at special school, Alternative Provision (AP) or a pupil referral unit (91.8% all identified SEN, 99.2% SEN support, 67.4% EHCP). For children with an EHCP a lower percentage attended a special school compared to the England and Yorkshire and Humber average.
Pupil Population
Children who are identified as having SEN have a primary need recorded in the school census identifying the main reason why they require additional support with learning. In Wakefield the most common reason for receiving SEN Support in Wakefield was speech, language and communication need (23.5%), this was the same as nationally (25.5%). Of those children who have an EHCP, autism (classified as autism spectrum disorder by the Department of Education definitions) was the most common primary need (33.5%), the same as nationally also (32.2%).
What are the differences within Wakefield district?
In the 2022/23 academic year the percentage of children identified as SEN varies by year group with the percentage of children highest in Years 4, 5 and 6; the final three years of primary school for most pupils. Males are more likely to be identified as having SEN compared to females. Children living in poverty are at higher risk of being identified with SEN (Shaw et al. 2016). Using free school meals as a proxy for deprivation shows more children receiving free school meals have SEN support or an EHCP than those who don’t. Areas with higher childhood deprivation as measured by the Income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) also have higher percentages of children with SEN Support and with an EHCP. The percentage of children identified as SEN also varies by ethnicity with a higher percentage of White British children in Wakefield having SEN support and slightly higher percentage of Black children having an EHCP though numbers are small. Those children with English as a primary language were also more likely to be identified as SEN. It has been suggested there a number of reasons why children from different ethnicities and non-English speaking children may be less likely to be identified as SEN including lack of awareness of some types of SEN, language difficulties in accessing assessment and cultural differences (Strand, 2018). Looked after children and children in need (CiN) are also more likely to have SEN support or an EHCP than children overall.
Likelihood of being identified as SEN
School Attainment School Attendance School Health Survey
Children identified with SEN vs other pupils
Children with SEN support and those with an EHCP have lower educational attainment at different stages in their education than other pupils. Children are assessed at the end of reception as to whether they have a good level of development in 17 early learning goals. Children in Wakefield with no SEN support achieve a good level of development in an average of 15 early learning goals compared to 8 in those with SEN Support and 2 for those with an EHCP. As children progress at Key Stage 2 68% of pupils with no SEN support reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to 21% of children with SEN support and 7% of those with an EHCP. At GCSE level 56.9% of pupils with no SEN support gain grades 5 and above in English and Maths GCSEs compared to 23.2% of those with SEN support and 10.5% of children with an EHCP.
Absence and exclusion rates are higher in pupils identified as having special educational needs compared to other pupils. In the Autumn term 2021/22 within Wakefield 6.4% of sessions were missed due to absence for children with no identified SEN, this increased to 9.5% for children with SEN support and 12.1% for children with an EHCP.
Pupils with persistent absence (10% or more of sessions) make up 22.5% of pupils without SEN in Wakefield, 32.4% of those with SEN support and 36.8% of those with EHCP provision. Only a small proportion of pupils had severe absence (50% or more of total sessions), 0.9% of those without SEN, 2.6% of those with SEN support and 5.2% of those with an EHCP. It is difficult to explore trends in absence due to the effect of the Covid pandemic though absence rates remain higher than pre-covid levels for all pupils.
Department of Education data for the 2021/22 autumn term shows that in Wakefield suspension rates were 299 suspensions per 10,000 pupils without SEN, 1,164 per 10,000 for those with SEN support and 1,318 per 10,000 pupils for those with EHCP plans. In Wakefield the permanent exclusion rate for children without SEN is 2 per 10,000 increasing to 15 per 10,000 for those with SEN support and 8 per 10,000 for those with an EHCP. These rates are based on very small numbers of permanent exclusions and so there will be substantial variation and uncertainty in these rates.
The School Health Survey which is carried out every two years in Wakefield in 2022 asked Years 5, 7 and 9 pupils about aspects of their lifestyle, health and wellbeing. Children with special educational needs had different responses to some questions than other pupils, below is a summary of the main differences, further results from the health survey can be found though this link: 2022 School Health Survey Results :
Health Social care Emerging Need Transition to adulthood
Health, social care, emerging need and transition to adulthood
Children with some types of special educational need will need support not just with education but also with their health. These are supported by specialist schemes such as the Learning Disability Health Check and health services including Children’s Therapy Services, Community Health Services and CAMHS. Currently it is difficult to ascertain the full level of additional health needs of children with special educational needs in Wakefield as there is not an easy way to identify children based on whether they receive educational support. Wakefield is developing a joint linked health data-set which will be able to allow more information about the health needs of this population.
Some children and young people with special educational needs receive extra support through social care, this can include receiving a personal budget, applying to access the short break scheme which provided short breaks for 394 children in the 2022-2023 year (https://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/short-breaks/about/) and support with the transition to adulthood (discussed below). Of children who are looked after or in care, a higher percentage have SEN Support or an EHCP compared to children overall.
During pregnancy and after birth routine screening and health check programmes are in place to check for early signs of health conditions that may affect the baby including those which may lead to special educational needs. This can help identify where early treatment can be implemented or extra support put in place. Factors during pregnancy such as obesity and smoking can lead to increased risk of pregnancy complications including premature birth and low birth weight which may in turn lead to increased risk of special educational needs. See the specific JSNA Wakefield section giving more information on maternity in Wakefield.
Once a baby is born several health and development checks are carried out as they grow (NHS England, 2020). The main checks all children are entitled to receive are a new birth visit, 6-8 week review, 12 month review and a 2-2.5 year review. In Wakefield 92.1% of newborns received their new birth visit within 14 days, this was higher than the national and regional average, 91.1% received their 6-8 week check before 8 weeks, 83.8% received their 12 month review by the time they were 12 months old and 75.8% of children had their 2-2½ year review (2021/22 financial year).
Born and Bred in (BaBi) Wakefield is an exciting new research initiative which aims to create a picture of local people’s health and lifestyles over time. It is a long-term study that uses research to help identify how we might create a healthier environment for families across the Wakefield district to enjoy. Starting during pregnancy, data which is routinely collected about mums and babies is linked together to provide a wider picture of the factors affecting local family’s health and wellbeing. This includes health, social and educational sources of data, for example baby’s birth weight and height, or as blood pressure measurements during pregnancy and may in the future be able to follow up whether some children may be at higher risk of developing special educational needs. The study began recruitment in April 2022 and in the first year 550 mums have been recruited.
Pathways after leaving school can vary with some children needing no additional support when entering higher and further education or the workplace, others will receive support from their education establishment or employer directly through adaptations or adjustment as required whilst others will continue to receive support through Wakefield Council services. An annual event; Preparing for Adulthood and Careers Event, is open to all pupils in Year 9 and above and provides support and advice to children identified as having SEN to showcase post-16 options with a number of exhibitors from across different organisations.
Those with an EHCP in Wakefield receive support on the transition pathway, Preparing for Adulthood, which begins in year 9 and can continue until the age of 25 years , this can include help with education, employment and preparation for independent living. Supported internships, a one year full time structured study programme aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 with a learning disability and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), are also available with several providers in Wakefield including: Project SEARCH Pinderfields Hospital, Project SEARCH West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board Wakefield and The Shaw Trust Internship Programme.
Help and support in Wakefield
Across Wakefield District there are a number of sources of information and guidance alongside extra support for families of children identified as having a special educational need including the following:
Targeted support
Wakefield Local Offer
Wakefield Local Offer is a directory of services available for children with special educational needs and their families across the District. A website provides all this information in sections relating to education, services and things to do alongside a newsletter released three times a year and links to other resources. It has information about different conditions, support groups, services and advice and is aimed at children, young people, parents, carers and professionals.
WESAIL and SENDIASS
Wakefield Early Support, Advice, Information and Liaison (WESAIL) service provides Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) to children and young people aged 0-25 years and their parents and carers and is currently provided by Family Action via funding from Wakefield Council and Wakefield Integrated Care Board (ICB). Their work includes providing free advice, support and signposting via phone, text or email, this includes information on how to apply for an EHCP and advice on issues such as reasonable adjustment and annual reviews, as well as for keeping the local offer up to date and developing and reviewing what is provided. The team is made up of six people: a service manager, an administrator, a senior SENDIASS officer and three part time officers. In 2020-21 WESAIL answered 923 duty calls, 303 from professionals and 620 from parents according to their annual report.
WISENDSS
Wakefield Inclusion and Special Educational Needs / Disabilities Support (WISENDSS) are committed to offering support and training at an individual or whole school level in the areas of Autism (ASD), Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and Learning Support.
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum
Wakefield parent carer forum is an independent parent carer forum led by a group of local parents who listen to and represent the views of local parents, young people and children with special educational needs and/or disability aged 0-25 years old in the Wakefield area. Their aim is to work in partnership with service commissioners providers through participation and co-production to make a positive difference, this includes regular meetings between the forum and Service leads at the Council. It also includes running local events for parents and children including an annual conference ‘Let’s talk about SEND’, SEND soft play and Coffee and Chat sessions.
Short Breaks
Wakefield offers a variety of short break schemes support, an overview can be found on the short breaks local offer page, short breaks includes:
• Accessible fun activities in the community
• Support to access fun activities in the community
• Day time or overnight care in the home or elsewhere
• Services to help carers in the evenings, at weekends and during the school holidays.
Care can be accessed through a number of providers. In 2022/23 394 children accessed short breaks, the same number as 2021/22.
Alternative provision
The Alternative Provision Team oversee a multi-agency system of Inclusion Panels as part of the Wakefield Families Together model, to evaluate and provide Alternative Provision and other support to children and young people at risk of permanent exclusion. Some of these may have SEND. SEND professionals attend Inclusion Panel meetings along with other professional partners, and assess need for this on a case by case basis. Whilst this route is not deemed ideal for children and young people with EHCPs (unless there are exceptional circumstances), those on SEND support and at risk of permanent exclusion are considered for short-term step-outs at Alternative Provisions in our district. A separate pathway is in place for those with an EHCP who are at risk of permanent exclusion. The Inclusion panel resources and the Inclusion, Alternative Provision and Inclusion Panels web pages on the Wakefield Traded Services website give more information on the services available.
Across the Council
Wakefield Families Together
More widely across the Council families can be offered additional support through the Wakefield Families Together model providing local help to families across the District within their own community through family and youth hubs. As part of the support available to families the Team Around service which includes ‘Team around the Early Years’ and ‘Team around the school’ provide support with concerns on behaviour, school attendance, or emotional health and wellbeing to provide a bespoke support package for each family who needs it. Between February 2022 and April 2023 2,228 children and their families have been offered support, 549 who have SEN support (25%) and 183 (8%) who have an EHCP.
Happy, Healthy Holiday Scheme
The Happy, Healthy holiday scheme provides holiday clubs through grant funding from the government, in 2022 16.2% of the children who took part were identified as having SEND.
50 Things To Do Before You’re Five Wakefield
A free app developed to help 0-5 years olds become school ready 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five Wakefield offers ideas for activities for young children to helps to offer a range of experiences that are important for early child development. It also includes additional suggestions to make activities accessible for children with special educational needs with additional suggestions under an extra tab.
Wakefield Museums, Castles and Libraries
Wakefield Museums and Castles include Pontefract and Sandal Castles and Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield museum. As well as welcoming children with SEN at their regular educational sessions such as craft activities, writing workshops and exploration of the exhibits they also provide additional SEND sessions with a more relaxed atmosphere. Wakefield Libraries operates nine libraries across the Wakefield District have several facilities to improve accessibility including books on a range of topics, large print and audiobook collections and autism friendly guides to libraries services (e.g. Normanton (see related documents at the end of the page)) amongst other tools. All libraries offer free Storytimes some including Makaton rhymes, Tovertafels (overhead projector games which are interactive and encourage interaction for all abilities) are available in eight of our libraries and are popular with all families and ages. The library service is also part of the BookStart campaign offering a book pack to babies aged 8 to 12 months through their health visitor or available in the library directly. In 2023/23 3,849 children received a baby book pack (97.9% of all children born in Wakefield District). There are also special packs for children with additional needs, in 2022/23 in Wakefield District 227 packs were gifted specifically aimed at children with different additional needs.
JSNA full report
In September 2023 a more in depth report was created to complement the website and is available here as a PDF report:
Wakefield Special educational needs JSNA report
Useful links
UK Government, Department for Education. Special educational needs in England, Academic year 2022/23
UK Government, Department for Education. Education, health and care plans, Reporting Year 2023
Welcome to Wakefield SEND Local Offer
References
Shaw B, Bernardes E, Trethewey A, Menzies L (2016) Special educational needs and their links to poverty, JRF Report, Link: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/special-educational-needs-and-their-links-poverty
Strand S & Lindorff A. (2018) Ethnic disproportionality in the identification of Special Educational Needs (SEN) in England: Extent, causes and consequences. Link: https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/research/the-unequal-representation-of-ethnic-minorities-in-special-education-in-england-extent-causes-and-consequences/