The Guardian reports on the findings of a research study examining the level of special educational needs (SEN) support required by children in the care system. Researchers at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health examined data on almost half a million children who began school in September 2005 and found that 83% of the 6,240 children who entered the care system during their school years, required additional SEN support, and almost a quarter had an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). These findings reveal a much higher level of special educational needs in the looked after population than is suggested by the government’s annual data, which is based on just one year of schooling.
Further details can be found in the article published on The Guardian website.