Overview
It's important for us to understand the SEND population in Stockport. Our research has shown us that:
there are currently 81,003 children and young people aged 0 to 25 years living in Stockport. In Stockport, 8,993 children and young people (0 to 25 year olds) have special educational needs and/or a disability
approximately 10.7% of the total population of 0 to 25 year olds in Stockport have an identified SEND need. This is higher than the national average (8.5%)
67.3% of children and young people with SEND have their needs met through SEN Support and 32.7% have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
the number of EHCPs in Stockport has increased from 2,195 in 2019 to 2,827 at the end of 2023, which is an overall increase of over 28%. Since the 2023 SEND Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, this has risen to 3,164 in mid-February 2024 with an additional 590 in progress (where there is a plan being drafted but not finalised)
pupils with SEND or an EHCP are far more likely to receive free school meals (FSM) than pupils without SEND or an EHCP. Specifically, 36.7% of pupils with an EHCP and 34.5% with SEN Support receive FSM, compared with 17.7% of pupils without SEND or an EHCP
where SEND children and young people live:
EHCP rates are 6.0% in the most deprived areas compared to 2.1% in the least deprived areas. For those who receive SEN Support, the rates are 9.4% in the most deprived areas compared with 4.2% in the least deprived areas
combined SEN Support and EHCPs are highest in our deprived areas of Adswood, Brinnington, Offerton and Lancashire Hill. More than 20% of those aged 0 to 25 years in these areas have a SEND need. The area with the lowest proportion of children and young people with SEND is Romiley, which has a rate of 3.5%