Private special school providers

Request

Please could I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

For each of the last five calendar years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) could you please provide me with the following:

1) The total number of private special school providers used by the local authority for SEND placements.

2) The number of children the local authority has placed in private special schools.

3) The total yearly cost to the local authority of using private special school providers.

Decision

1-3)

Academic Year

 

21/22

22/23

23/24

24/25

           

Number of Providers

 

52

47

44

53

Number of Children

 

243

287

316

435

Total cost

 

£11,715,545

£12,914,182

£15,076,442

£21,815,680

Reference number
FOI 14304449
Date request received
31/10/25
Date of decision
27/11/25