See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. For the purposes of this request:
• “Autistic young people” refers to children and young people with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• This request specifically concerns autistic young people who:
o have Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and/or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD); and/or
o are educated in specialist educational settings, including maintained special schools, special academies, specialist independent schools, or specialist post-16 institutions.
Please provide the following information for the most recent academic year available and, where possible, for each of the previous five academic years.

Post-16 educational provision (ages 16–18/19)
1. The number of autistic young people with SLD and/or PMLD who are in full-time education and are aged 16–18 (or up to age 19).
2. The number of autistic young people educated in specialist settings aged 16–18 (or up to age 19), broken down by:
• Maintained special schools;
• Special academies;
• Specialist independent schools;
• Further education colleges;
• Specialist post-16 institutions.

Post-19 educational provision (ages 19–25)
3. The number of autistic young people with SLD and/or PMLD aged 19–25 who:
• remain in full-time education; and
• have an active Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
4. Please provide a breakdown of the educational settings attended using the categories listed above.

Discontinuation of EHCPs before the age of 25
5. The number of autistic young people with SLD and/or PMLD, or those educated in specialist settings, whose EHCPs were ceased or discontinued before reaching the age of 25 during the previous five academic years.
6. Please provide the age at cessation (aggregated where necessary to preserve anonymity).
7. Please provide the recorded reason(s) for ceasing the EHCP, including but not limited to:
• Educational outcomes achieved;
• No longer requiring special educational provision;
• Entry into employment;
• Entry into higher education;
• Young person no longer participating in education or training;
• Local Authority decision following annual review;
• Family request;
• Move out of area;
• Other (please specify).

Post-cessation outcomes
8. Where recorded by the Local Authority, please provide the number of young people whose EHCP ceased before age 25 and who subsequently:
• Entered employment;
• Entered higher education;
• Remained in further education or training;
• Became Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET);
• Had their EHCP reinstated.

Appeals and disputes
9. Please provide the number of EHCP cessations identified above that resulted in:
• Mediation;
• SEND Tribunal appeals;
• Decisions overturned resulting in reinstatement of the EHCP.