See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to the number and type of current Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision, and the commissioning route used to access it. This request is made in a personal/business research capacity and is not a Subject Access Request under the UK GDPR. Please treat this as a request under the Act and respond within the statutory 20 working day period.

This request has been deliberately scoped to a single, narrow subject area so that it can reasonably be answered within the appropriate cost limit prescribed under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (18 hours / £450 for a local authority). It is my genuine belief that a response can be provided within this limit. If you consider that complying with this request would nonetheless exceed that limit, I would be grateful if, in line with your duty to provide advice and assistance under section 16 of the Act, you could contact me to discuss how the request might be narrowed further, rather than refusing it in full.

1. The number and names of independent or non maintained special schools (day) currently operating within the local authority area, together with their designated need type(s) and current registered capacity and the average costs per pupil per annum covering academic year 2025/26. This should be provided as current spend over the year - it does not need to be qualified spend at year end budget point given that I am requesting average costs.
2. The number and names of independent or non maintained residential special schools currently commissioned by the local authority for its resident children and young people, whether located within or outside the local authority area and the average costs per pupil per annum covering academic year 2025/26. This should be provided as current spend over the year - it does not need to be qualified spend at year end budget point given that I am requesting average costs.

3. Details of any Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), approved provider framework, or equivalent commissioning route used by the local authority for special school, residential, including how a new provider may apply to join. A link or document can be provided.

4. The name and contact details of the team or individual responsible for SEND sufficiency planning and/or commissioning of specialist placements, to whom a provider may address an expression of interest.

5. A copy of, or direct link to, the local authority's current SEND Sufficiency Plan, Strategy, or equivalent document, including any published gap analysis by need type (e.g. ASD, SEMH, SLCN) and by geographic area within the local authority.

6. Details of any current or planned capital programme, free school proposal, expansion, or new-build project intended to increase special day or special residential school capacity within the local authority area, including expected additional place numbers, need type(s) to be served, and expected opening date.

7. Any published assessment of the local authority's current High Needs Block (Dedicated Schools Grant) position, including whether the authority is subject to a Safety Valve Agreement, Deficit Recovery Plan, or equivalent, and the value of any agreed deficit reduction target.

8. A copy of the send reforms plan as submitted to the DFE in June. This should be the submitted document and appendices.