Requests for an assessment for special educational needs
Have you ever asked your child ' s school( current or previous) to assess your child for possible special educational needs?
Total = 3,565,000
1,870,000 17 %
830,000 8 %
390,000 475,000 4 % 4 %
Yes – and an assessment was undertaken, organised by school |
Yes – but we are still awaiting an assessment |
Yes – but they weren’ t assessed by school so we paid for a private assessment |
Yes – but they have not been assessed |
Sample: 5,866 parents in England( 3,391), Scotland( 1,309), Wales( 865) and Northern Ireland( 301) who have at least one child aged 4 to 18 in school. Base: All UK parents, weighted
3.5 million parents have asked schools to assess their child for special educational needs
Who is more likely to have requested special educational needs assessments
With a child eligible for free school meals
Disabled parents
Parents aged 18 to 34
Parents in London
Child at an independent school
Ethnic minority parents
All parents
47 % 44 % 42 % 42 % 40 %
33 %
56 %
Sample: 5,866 parents in England( 3,391), Scotland( 1,309), Wales( 865) and Northern Ireland( 301) who have at least one child aged 4 to 18 in school. Base: All UK parents, weighted
26 THE NATIONAL PARENT SURVEY 2025