Benchmarking

Local Authorities within the SCRIP region have identified a number of benchmarking activities which are carried out on an annual basis. Since 2001 data on placements of children in independent and non-maintained special schools has been gathered, and in 2005 126 local authorities took part, providing a comprehensive picture of the numbers and costs of such placements throughout the country.

Reports covering this exercise from 2003 onwards are available from the relevant section (out of authority placements) of this site.

SEN finance benchmarking

Concern over the scope and accuracy of section 52 data gave rise to an annual benchmarking exercise to record the costs associated with educational provision for pupils with special educational needs.  This was originally a joint exercise with the London and SERSEN regional partnerships, and has now been extended across the country with 70 local authorities taking part in the 2005 exercise. Reports are available for download from 2002 onwards, together with individual local authority profiles.  Please note that the key for the latter is only available to participating local authorities.

Download the 2005 report 
Download the 2005 LA profiles
Download the 2004 report
Download the 2003 report
Download the full 2002 benchmarking report
Download Durham LEA's 2002 analysis of Section 52 budget figures 

N.B. You will need to register on the site if you wish to download any documents