Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information regarding specialist post-16 education.

I am aware of data published by the Department for Education. However, the ‘Education, health and care plans' data set (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans) does not provide any granular breakdown by primary type of SEN need. I am also aware of the 'Special education needs in England' data set. Therefore, I would like to request the following information:

1. Please could you supply the name, job title, email address and telephone number of the commissioner with responsibility for making specialist FE college placements

For questions 2 through 10, please supply the following information for the financial years 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Please note the following definitions:
• All specialist FE colleges include local authority maintained, non-maintained, and independent for profit and not-for-profit post-16 establishments
• Specialist post-16 establishments are FE colleges and sixth-form colleges that are specially organised to make special educational provision for students with special educational needs
• ‘Learning Difficulty’ includes Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD), Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
• ‘SEMH’ refers to Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs where children/young people have difficulties managing their behaviour. Typical characteristics include, but are not limited to: emotional regulation issues, social interaction difficulties, mental health conditions, and behavioural issues

2. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan:
a) In all specialist FE colleges
b) In independent specialist FE colleges

3. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan in an independent specialist FE college that is;
a) In area
b) Out of area

4. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains an independent specialist FE college placement for a primary EHC Plan need of:
a) Learning difficulty (including MLD, SLD, PMLD, SpLD)
b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
c) SEMH

5. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains an independent specialist FE college placement for a primary EHC Plan need of:
a) Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
b) Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
c) Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD)
d) Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)

6. Please provide the local authority’s total expenditure on SEN placements;
a) In all specialist FE colleges
b) In independent specialist FE colleges

7. Please provide the local authority’s total expenditure on independent specialist FE college placements for a primary EHC Plan need of:
a) Learning difficulty
b) Autistic Spectrum Disorder
c) SEMH

8. Please list of 5 independent specialist FE colleges with whom the local authority makes the most placements for children or young people with an EHC Plan for LD, ASD or SEMH for the latest full year available. For each provider, please specify;
a) Name of establishment
b) total number of placements made
c) total expenditure on placements made

9. Please list of 5 independent specialist FE colleges with whom the local authority spends the most on per placement for children or young people with an EHC Plan for LD, ASD or SEMH for the latest full year available. For each provider, please specify;
a) Name of establishment
b) total number of placements made
c) total expenditure on placements made

10. Please provide the total number of children and young people for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN or EHC Plan in an independent specialist FE college
a) Who’s previous placement was an independent special school
b) Who’s next placement was an adult social care placement in residential care or supported living