Reports of additional learning or special educational needs in maintained schools by sector, type of need and year

Standard shorthand is used in this table: [c] = confidential information.

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Data description ( of 1 selected1 selectable options)

Year ( of 9 selected9 selectable options)

Sector ( of 6 selected6 selectable options)

Need ( of 15 selected15 selectable options)


Data valuesData descriptionYearSectorNeed
7,230Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
[c]Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsVisual impairment
1,840Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsSevere learning difficulties
14,845Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
[c]Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsDyscalculia
605Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
820Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
630Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsModerate learning difficulties
3,280Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsSevere learning difficulties
15,875Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
165Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsDyscalculia
15Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsDyspraxia
9,310Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
175Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
25Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsDyspraxia
690Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
1,305Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
5,405Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
3,035Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
9,305Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsModerate learning difficulties
10,975Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
340Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
20Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsSevere learning difficulties
325Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsDyspraxia
2,315Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
1,020Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
45Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsDyscalculia
680Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsDyslexia
4,350Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
280Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsVisual impairment
70Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsSevere learning difficulties
10Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsDyscalculia
165Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
10Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
80Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
205Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsDyspraxia
415Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsHearing impairment
3,485Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
20Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsDyslexia
300Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
190Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsVisual impairment
1,365Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
2,305Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsDyslexia
2,400Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
1,135Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsHearing impairment
750Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsVisual impairment
75Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
25Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsModerate learning difficulties
3,790Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
15Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
980Number of pupils2024/25All schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
[c]Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
80Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
160Number of pupils2024/25Special schoolsHearing impairment
4,615Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsModerate learning difficulties
25Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
925Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsSevere learning difficulties
275Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
85Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsDyspraxia
645Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
1,475Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
495Number of pupils2024/25Primary schoolsHearing impairment
[c]Number of pupils2024/25Nursery schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
525Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsModerate learning difficulties
15Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
150Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsDyslexia
150Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
425Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
65Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsHearing impairment
25Number of pupils2024/25Middle schoolsVisual impairment
3,510Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsModerate learning difficulties
425Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsSevere learning difficulties
1,455Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsDyslexia
110Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsDyscalculia
3,150Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
1,125Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
255Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsVisual impairment
70Number of pupils2024/25Secondary schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
11,375Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
1,845Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
4,155Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
620Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsHearing impairment
135Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsDyspraxia
85Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsDyscalculia
745Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
330Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsVisual impairment
855Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsSevere learning difficulties
5,825Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsModerate learning difficulties
265Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsProfound & multiple learning difficulties
[c]Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsHearing impairment
70Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsSpeech, language and communication difficulties
15Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsSevere learning difficulties
1,070Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsDyslexia
160Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
8,205Number of pupils2023/24Primary schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
16,590Number of pupils2023/24All schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
5Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsAutistic Spectrum Disorders
[c]Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsPhysical and medical difficulties
50Number of pupils2023/24Nursery schoolsBehavioural, emotional and social difficulties
310Number of pupils2023/24All schoolsMulti-sensory impairment
Showing 1 to 100 of 734 rows
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Main information

Most recent update
24 September 2025
Next update expected
July 2026
Designation
Official statistics
Data provider
Welsh Government
Data source
Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC)
Time period covered
September 2016 to August 2025

Data notes

Rounding applied

Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.

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.

Published by

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

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