News

Dramatic rise in children with complex disabilities – and many are not being given proper support

Disability
The number of children with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions has risen dramatically in the past decade, but the services they rely on are struggling to keep up.

The warning has come after the first analysis of its kind in more than a decade.

Carried out by the Council for Disabled Children and the True Colours Trust, it reveals that there are now around 73,000 disabled school children (aged five to 16) in England who have complex needs – this compares to 49,300 in 2004.

The figures have been compiled from School Census data and include:

The report – Understanding the needs of disabled children with complex needs or life-limiting conditions – says that there are also some 13,500 children with statements or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) in the private school sector who are not included in the School Census.

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