This dataset can be found in:

Pupils in maintained schools with special educational needs by major need and year (up to 2015/16)

Data values	Data description	Year	Major Need
17,983	Number of pupils	2015/16	Moderate learning difficulties
29,629	Number of pupils	2015/16	General learning difficulties
2,080	Number of pupils	2015/16	Severe learning difficulties
766	Number of pupils	2015/16	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
7,733	Number of pupils	2015/16	Dyslexia
435	Number of pupils	2015/16	Dyscalculia
556	Number of pupils	2015/16	Dyspraxia
1,368	Number of pupils	2015/16	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
5,327	Number of pupils	2015/16	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,692	Number of pupils	2015/16	Physical and medical difficulties
2,215	Number of pupils	2015/16	Hearing impairment
861	Number of pupils	2015/16	Visual impairment
49	Number of pupils	2015/16	Multi-sensory impairment
16,259	Number of pupils	2015/16	Speech, language and communication difficulties
15,190	Number of pupils	2015/16	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
105,143	Number of pupils	2015/16	Total
20,631	Number of pupils	2014/15	Moderate learning difficulties
27,963	Number of pupils	2014/15	General learning difficulties
2,166	Number of pupils	2014/15	Severe learning difficulties
785	Number of pupils	2014/15	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
8,590	Number of pupils	2014/15	Dyslexia
561	Number of pupils	2014/15	Dyscalculia
566	Number of pupils	2014/15	Dyspraxia
1,243	Number of pupils	2014/15	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
4,915	Number of pupils	2014/15	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,549	Number of pupils	2014/15	Physical and medical difficulties
2,182	Number of pupils	2014/15	Hearing impairment
867	Number of pupils	2014/15	Visual impairment
48	Number of pupils	2014/15	Multi-sensory impairment
15,336	Number of pupils	2014/15	Speech, language and communication difficulties
14,555	Number of pupils	2014/15	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
104,957	Number of pupils	2014/15	Total
24,808	Number of pupils	2013/14	Moderate learning difficulties
24,890	Number of pupils	2013/14	General learning difficulties
2,339	Number of pupils	2013/14	Severe learning difficulties
775	Number of pupils	2013/14	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
8,978	Number of pupils	2013/14	Dyslexia
623	Number of pupils	2013/14	Dyscalculia
574	Number of pupils	2013/14	Dyspraxia
1,167	Number of pupils	2013/14	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
4,592	Number of pupils	2013/14	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,437	Number of pupils	2013/14	Physical and medical difficulties
2,149	Number of pupils	2013/14	Hearing impairment
862	Number of pupils	2013/14	Visual impairment
57	Number of pupils	2013/14	Multi-sensory impairment
14,680	Number of pupils	2013/14	Speech, language and communication difficulties
14,372	Number of pupils	2013/14	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
105,303	Number of pupils	2013/14	Total
29,249	Number of pupils	2012/13	Moderate learning difficulties
21,034	Number of pupils	2012/13	General learning difficulties
2,463	Number of pupils	2012/13	Severe learning difficulties
775	Number of pupils	2012/13	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
9,161	Number of pupils	2012/13	Dyslexia
482	Number of pupils	2012/13	Dyscalculia
537	Number of pupils	2012/13	Dyspraxia
986	Number of pupils	2012/13	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
4,227	Number of pupils	2012/13	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,332	Number of pupils	2012/13	Physical and medical difficulties
2,081	Number of pupils	2012/13	Hearing impairment
845	Number of pupils	2012/13	Visual impairment
66	Number of pupils	2012/13	Multi-sensory impairment
13,940	Number of pupils	2012/13	Speech, language and communication difficulties
13,613	Number of pupils	2012/13	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
103,791	Number of pupils	2012/13	Total
34,097	Number of pupils	2011/12	Moderate learning difficulties
16,868	Number of pupils	2011/12	General learning difficulties
2,456	Number of pupils	2011/12	Severe learning difficulties
729	Number of pupils	2011/12	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
9,304	Number of pupils	2011/12	Dyslexia
420	Number of pupils	2011/12	Dyscalculia
497	Number of pupils	2011/12	Dyspraxia
801	Number of pupils	2011/12	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
3,968	Number of pupils	2011/12	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,267	Number of pupils	2011/12	Physical and medical difficulties
1,932	Number of pupils	2011/12	Hearing impairment
823	Number of pupils	2011/12	Visual impairment
64	Number of pupils	2011/12	Multi-sensory impairment
13,244	Number of pupils	2011/12	Speech, language and communication difficulties
13,568	Number of pupils	2011/12	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
103,038	Number of pupils	2011/12	Total
44,501	Number of pupils	2010/11	Moderate learning difficulties
2,419	Number of pupils	2010/11	Severe learning difficulties
704	Number of pupils	2010/11	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
3,451	Number of pupils	2010/11	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,102	Number of pupils	2010/11	Physical and medical difficulties
1,713	Number of pupils	2010/11	Hearing impairment
812	Number of pupils	2010/11	Visual impairment
64	Number of pupils	2010/11	Multi-sensory impairment
12,264	Number of pupils	2010/11	Speech, language and communication difficulties
13,246	Number of pupils	2010/11	Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
16,654	Number of pupils	2010/11	Specific learning difficulties
99,930	Number of pupils	2010/11	Total
44,535	Number of pupils	2009/10	Moderate learning difficulties
2,442	Number of pupils	2009/10	Severe learning difficulties
773	Number of pupils	2009/10	Profound & multiple learning difficulties
3,122	Number of pupils	2009/10	Autistic Spectrum Disorders
4,026	Number of pupils	2009/10	Physical and medical difficulties
1,647	Number of pupils	2009/10	Hearing impairment
773	Number of pupils	2009/10	Visual impairment
74	Number of pupils	2009/10	Multi-sensory impairment

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Next update expected:This dataset is not expected to be updated or replaced in the future

Updates

• 15th January 2026: Dataset first published.

Main information

• Designation: Official statistics
• Data provider: Welsh Government
• Data source: Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC)
• Time period covered: September 2003 to August 2016

Overview

• Summary of dataset and variables:

  Data from the annual School Census which collects information on schools, pupils, classes, ethnicity, free school meal eligibility, additional learning needs and special educational needs.

• Data collection or calculation:

  The data in this report is collected by the Welsh Government from local authority maintained schools in a return called the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC). PLASC is an electronic collection of pupil and school level data. Schools record data on pupils and the school throughout the year in their Management Information System (MIS) software. This data is collated into an electronic PLASC return and submitted to the Welsh Government through DEWI, a secure online data transfer system developed by the Welsh Government. Various stages of automated validation and sense-checking are built into the process to ensure a high quality of data to inform policy making and funding.

• Statistical quality:

  The returns are authorised by headteachers and validated by local authorities.

  The school census date is usually in January. Due to the level of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in January 2022, the 2022 census date was delayed to 15 February 2022. School closures between December 2020 and March 2021 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic meant that the 2021 census date was delayed to 20 April 2021.

  Pupils are eligible for free school meals if their parents or guardians are in receipt of certain means-tested benefits or support payments. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have impacted on the quality of this data and may have resulted in over recording of this data in 2020 to 2022. These figures do not include pupils who only receive free school meals due to the universal primary free school meal policy.

• Related reports:
  • Schools' census results

Published by

• Organisation: Welsh Government
• Contact email: school.stats@gov.wales

Metadata

The metadata for this dataset is not included when you download the data. You can download this separately. This contains all the information from the 'About this dataset' tab.