How many schoolchildren have learning disabilities?

This page shows maps of the numbers of schoolchildren reported as having 'learning difficulties' in the 2010 and 2011 annual school censuses. These were conducted for the then Department for Children, Schools and Families. The data are public and can be found on the archive website.

Learning difficulties are classified by the English Department responsible for Education slightly differently from the way we have described in our page on definitions. The details are set out below the link to the maps.

School Action Plans & Special Education Needs Interactive Instant Atlas Map

How the Education Department identifies 'Learning Difficulties'.

When it becomes clear that a child in school is having difficulty learning, the schools assesses what the problem is and make special plans for helping children find better ways to learn. At first this is called SCHOOL ACTION. If this does not work, a more detailed assessment is carried out and a SCHOOL ACTION PLUS plan or a STATEMENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS is organised.

We have considered that children at SCHOOL ACTION PLUS level or above because of what is termed 'learning difficulty' by the Department for Education, come into the group the Observatory considers to have a learning disability.

• SCHOOL ACTION requires teachers to monitor the different or additional needs of the pupil, and put into place any short term targets and observe what they achieve.

• SCHOOL ACTION PLUS is where SCHOOL ACTION has not helped the pupil to make adequate progress in their education. School action plus seeks advice from the Local Education Authority's support services, from health and social work professionals, giving recommendations on how to work more effectively with the child in class.

• STATEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS - If the childs needs are not met by the SCHOOL ACTION PLUS the Local Education Authority will put into place a statutory assessment, explicitly identifying the special educational needs of the child. The provision is put into place for the pupil, and the Statement of Special Educational Needs is reviewed annually, to assess any progress in the childs achievements.

The government counts how many pupils in schools have learning disabilities. They use different categories for classifying the different levels of learning difficulties. We are interested in four of these categories below: -

1. Moderate learning difficulties

Children with moderate learning difficulties represent the majority of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools. Their educational delay is approximately 3 years, therefore requiring personal classroom support to remain on task.

Quite often children with moderate learning difficulties find it hard to attempt new tasks alone and require individual pupil support, this is a result of low levels of self-esteem and low confidence in their own abilities to complete the task.

2. Severe learning difficulties

School children with severe learning difficulties experience significant intellectual cognitive impairments which require a high level of support in school. They may need help with mobility, communication, and coordination. School work is taken in small steps with a concentration on communication, numeracy, literacy and social and personal developments.

3. Profound and multiple learning difficulties

School children with profound and multiple learning difficulties can often have more than one disability. These disabilities can be physical and sensory, but they will also have significant problems with learning. Communication can be achieved in various ways using, expressions, noises, and movements of the body, a change in behaviour or using symbols or signs. Most parents of children with profound and multiple learning difficulties find that residential schools offer the best support.

4. Autistic spectrum disorder

School children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders can find changes to routine very unsettling. Pupils need to be informed and prepared in advance of any changes. Some get special support in mainstream school, and some attend specialist schools. Only certain levels of the Autistic Spectrum are given Statements of Special Needs.

We have made maps and charts to show how these numbers vary around the country. You can see these by clicking on the map below.