Freedom of Information Act Request
Reference: ECC19969105 03 26
Response: 26 March 2026
I can confirm that Essex County Council does hold some of this information, and where we are able to release this, our response is listed below.
From: 2019-09-01
To: 2026-03-05
I am writing to request information under the freedom of information act 2000 relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision for children and young people resident in Basildon borough.
Where possible, please provide the data for the most recent five academic years (2019/20 to present). If available, I would also welcome any breakdown by the 14 Basildon electoral wards.
For clarity, this request relates specifically to children and young people resident within Basildon borough, rather than Essex-wide data.
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Question 1 - The total number of children and young people aged 0–25 with an EHCP who are resident in Basildon borough for each academic year from 2019/20 to the most recent available year.
As of each 1st September of the following years, the number of pupils with an EHCP where their home address is Basildon
September 2021 - 1551
September 2022 - 1623
September 2023 - 1759
September 2024 - 1996
September 2025 - 2159
Question 2 - The number of new EHCP needs assessment requests received each year for children resident in Basildon borough.
The number of EHCNA requests received between 1st Sep and 31st August
2020/21 - 354
2021/22 - 435
2022/23 - 515
2023/24 - 657
2024/25 - 675
Question 3 - The number of EHCPs issued following assessment for Basildon residents each year.
We do not have a report that has the EHCP issued with the district on. I can provide the number of those requested in those years that went on to get an EHCP / agreed to an assessment, so the below are based on the numbers above and how many went on to get an EHCP, but not those that were issued within the dates.
2020/21 – 214 EHCPs issued, 7 inactive after agreed
2021/22 – 274 EHCPs issued, 9 inactive after agreed
2022/23 – 339 EHCPs issued, 2 inactive after agreed
2023/24 – 26 still under assessment, 13 agreed but then made inactive, 371 EHCPs issued
2024/25 – 216 under assessment, 7 agreed but then made inactive, and 198 EHCPs issued
Question 4 - The number of Basildon residents with EHCPs by education phase, where available:
· Early years
· Primary
· Secondary
· Post-16
As of 9th March 2026:
Early years -11
Primary -712
Secondary - 419
Post-16 -258
SEND Prevalence
Question 5 - The number of pupils attending schools located in Basildon borough who have:
· An EHCP
· Sen support
Question 6- The percentage of pupils with SEND attending schools located within Basildon borough.
Based on the Autumn 2025 school census:
There were 3910 pupils on SEN Support (13.1%) and 1339 pupils with an EHCP (4.7%) in a Basildon school.
Based on Autumn 2024 school census:
There were 3759 pupils on SEN Support (12.6%) and 1285 pupils with an EHCP (4.3%) in a Basildon school
Based on the Autumn 2023 school census:
There were 3675 pupils on SEN Support (12.3%) and 1159 pupils with an EHCP (3.9%) in a Basildon school
Primary Need Type
The number of Basildon resident pupils with EHCPs by primary need category, including where available:
· Autism
· Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
· Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
· Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
· Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
· Physical Disability
· Other categories used by the department for education
Question 6 - If available, please also provide this breakdown specifically for secondary-aged pupils (years 7–11).
See below tables, data taken from 1st September from each year
|
Basildon residents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
Autism
|
630
|
692
|
777
|
939
|
1078
|
|
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
|
219
|
224
|
260
|
294
|
305
|
|
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
|
219
|
247
|
267
|
303
|
318
|
|
Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
|
227
|
211
|
206
|
204
|
182
|
|
Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
|
74
|
70
|
65
|
67
|
61
|
|
Physical Disability
|
90
|
86
|
87
|
86
|
89
|
|
Basildon residents Yr 7 - 11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
Autism
|
218
|
249
|
279
|
338
|
359
|
|
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
|
112
|
113
|
121
|
125
|
144
|
|
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
|
86
|
92
|
91
|
98
|
109
|
|
Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
|
101
|
101
|
89
|
87
|
72
|
|
Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
|
22
|
20
|
22
|
21
|
23
|
|
Physical Disability
|
28
|
32
|
33
|
33
|
29
|
Specialist school capacity and placements
Question 7 - The number of special school places located within Basildon borough, including the capacity
There are 2 special schools in Basildon which are:
Castledon School
Lift Pioneer School
Capacity as of Get Information About Schools Website:
Lift Pioneer – 170
Castledon - 240
And current number on roll for each setting.
Number of pupils on roll, as of Get Information About Schools Website:
Lift Pioneer – 189
Castledon - 238
Question 8 - The number of Basildon resident pupils with EHCPs attending:
· Special schools within Basildon borough
· Special schools elsewhere within Essex
· Independent special schools
· Specialist provision outside Essex
· Out-of-area placements
Special schools within Basildon borough - 309
Special schools elsewhere within Essex - 274
Independent special schools - 42
Specialist provision outside Essex - 58
Out-of-area placements - data not held by district
Question 9 - The number of Basildon resident pupils with EHCPs placed in specialist provision outside Basildon borough.
As above
Question 10 - The number placed in independent special schools.
As above
Question 11 - The average distance travelled by Basildon residents attending specialist placements, where recorded.
The average travel distance of pupils with an EHCP with a home district of Basildon, attending a special school or an independent special school is 5.5 miles
Placement availability and pressures
Question 12 - The number of Basildon residents with EHCPs who are currently:
· Awaiting a specialist placement
· Receiving interim provision
· Educated Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS)
Awaiting a specialist placement - 16
Receiving interim provision - data not held by district
Educated Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS) - 39
Question 13 - The number of Basildon resident pupils with EHCPs who are electively home educated.
35
Future demand / pipeline
Question 14 - The number of primary-aged pupils with EHCPs resident in Basildon borough.
934
Question 15 - The number of year 5 and year 6 pupils with EHCPs resident in Basildon borough.
313
SEND transport
Question 16 - The number of Basildon resident pupils travelling more than 10 miles to attend their SEND placement.
ECC does not hold the detailed routing information, as transport providers plan efficient routes themselves.
Question 17 - The total annual SEND transport expenditure associated with pupils resident in Basildon borough, where available.
We do not hold data on annual SEND transport expenditure costs just for residents in Basildon borough.
Your Right to Know
Democracy and Transparency
Essex County Council
Telephone: 033301 38989
Email:| www.essex.gov.uk
