Ethnic minority children not equally identified with Special Education Needs

Children of ethnic minority groups are over-represented for some types of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and under-represented for other types, compared to White British pupils, according to new Oxford University research. The report finds that: Asian pupils (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Other Asian) are half as likely to be identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as White British pupils Black Caribbean and Mixed White & Black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to be identified with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs as White British pupils. The report, conducted by Professor Steve Strand at the Department of Education at Oxford, looks at all school aged children aged 5-16 who have been identified with different types of SEN in England. While similar research has been conducted in the US, it is the first time a study with this detail has been done in the UK. With ethnic minority groups now accounting for one-third (30%) of school aged pupils in England, the issue is particularly pertinent. The project involved a comprehensive analysis of the England National Pupil Database to identify ethnic disproportionality in the identification of SEN throughout the period 2005 - 2016. The findings show the patterns of ethnic disproportionality described above are substantial and have been consistent for over a decade.