UK SEND Statistics: Part 3 - Age Distribution of Children and Young People with EHCPs

Sunday 3 August 2025

This is the third in our series of UK SEND statistics as we look into the age of children in the UK who have an EHCP and the variation of these statistics. Check out Part 2 if you missed it >>

Number of children and young people with EHCPs from 2023-2024

The number of children and young people with EHC plans has increased each year from 240,000 in 2015 to 576,000 in 2024

Under 5’s in 2023 – 21,087 Percentage of Under 5’s in 2023 - 4.078%

Under 5’s in 2024 – 26,527 Percentage of Under 5’s in 2024 – 4.605%

5-10 year olds in 2023 - 168,694 Percentage of 5-10 year olds in 2023 – 32.62%

5-10 year olds in 2024 – 187,165 Percentage of 5-10 year olds in 2024 – 32.49%

11-15 year olds in 2023 – 186,093 Percentage of 11-15 year olds in 2023 – 35.99%

11-15 year olds in 2024 – 208,609 Percentage of 11-15 year olds in 2024 – 36.23%

16-19 year olds in 2023 – 105,900 Percentage of 16-19 year olds in 2023 – 20.48%

16-19 year olds in 2024 – 115,002 Percentage of 16-19 year olds in 2024 – 19.96%

20-25 year olds in 2023 – 35,275 Percentage of 20-25 year olds in 2023 – 6.82%

20-25 year olds in 2024 – 35,526 Percentage of 20-25 year olds in 2024 – 6.17%

TOTAL of Children and Young People with EHCPs in 2023 - 517,049

TOTAL of Children and Young People with EHCPs in 2024 – 575,963

Graph showing Number of children and young people with EHCPs from 2023-2024

'Caseload - Age groups' from 'Education, health and care plans'

Source: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/0b65695e-9d68-42d4-1793-08dd3ba4043a

England total – 2023 – 517,049

England total – 2024 – 575,963

NE England – 2023 – 23,964

NE England – 2024 – 26,258

NW England – 2023 – 71,971

NW England – 2024 – 82,819

Yorkshire and the Humber – 2023 – 45,950

Yorkshire and the Humber – 2024 – 51,639

East Midlands – 2023 – 36,950

East Midlands – 2024 – 41,806

West Midlands – 2023 – 52,986

West Midlands – 2024 – 59,551

East of England – 2023 – 57,481

East of England – 2024 – 65,093

London – 2023 – 85,601

London – 2024 – 93,487

South East – 2023 – 91,259

South East – 2024 – 99,603

South West – 2023 – 50,887

South West – 2024 – 55,707

Graph showing 'Caseload - Age groups' from 'Education, health and care plans' EHCP By Region 2023 & 2024

To start at the beginning of our SEND Statistics blog series, please view Part 1 >>

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