The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in England reached a record 718,838 in January 2026, up 12.5% on the year before.
The increase was the largest since the plans were introduced in 2014, according to Department for Education statistics published on 25 June.
The statistics show that 110,708 new plans were started during 2025, a 13.3% rise on the previous year.
The number of children with EHC plans attending special schools increased to 211,400 between 2025 and 2026, a rise of 8.5%. However while the overall number of children attending a special school increased, the proportion of all children and young people with an EHC plan attending a special school has continued to decrease, from 38.6% in 2019 to 29.4% in 2026.
The proportion of EHCP holders at special schools who attend an independent rather than state-funded school has increased from 15.3% in 2025 to 16.8% in 2026.