High Number of Send Pupils in Most Deprived Parts of Bristol

Disparities in education and opportunities continue to remain entrenched in Bristol, with the highest numbers of Send pupils living in the most deprived parts of the city.

Data on Open Data Bristol, shows four wards of Bristol with the highest areas of deprivation continuing to have the highest Send population.

These same four wards also have some of the highest numbers of pupils being electively home educated.

The wards affected are Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward, Lawrence Hill ward, Filwood ward and Hartcliffe and Withywood ward.

Data shows the number of Send pupils living in each ward, alongside the number on school SEN support and the number with an EHCP.

The four wards at the top of the list remained unchanged between 2017 and 2022. Hartcliffe and Withywood ward remained at the top of the list, with an extremely high Send population in comparison to the rest of the city. There was some movement between the other four wards, with Lawrence Hill ward moving up the list to second position.

2017
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 437 Send pupils with just 340 receiving SEN support and 58 with an EHCP
Lawrence Hill Ward – 577 Send pupils with just 493 receiving SEN support and 42 with an EHCP
Filwood Ward – 586 Send pupils, with 483 receiving SEN support and 50 with an EHCP
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 829 Send pupils, with 711 receiving SEN support and 57 with an EHCP

2018
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 442 Send pupils with just 352 receiving SEN support and 74 with an EHCP
Filwood Ward – 578 Send pupils with just 472 receiving Send support and 74 with an EHCP
Lawrence Hill Ward – 620 Send pupils with just 529 receiving SEN support and 68 with an EHCP
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 992 Send pupils with just 883 receiving SEN support and 76 with an EHCP

2019
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 506 Send pupils with just 410 receiving SEN support and 96 with an EHCP
Filwood Ward – 582 Send pupils with just 478 receiving SEN support and 104 with an EHCP
Lawrence Hill Ward – 641 Send pupils with just 541 on SEN support and 100 with an EHCP
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 1000 Send pupils with just 882 on SEN support and 118 with an EHCP

2020
The number of pupils receiving SEN support or with an EHCP by ward is not contained in the remainder of the data
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 540 Send pupils
Filwood Ward – 606 Send pupils
Lawrence Hill Ward – 666 Send pupils
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 924 Send pupils

2021
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 570 Send pupils
Filwood Ward – 623 Send pupils
Lawrence Hill Ward – 702 Send pupils
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 970 Send pupils

2022
Filwood Ward – 652 Send pupils
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward – 660 Send pupils
Lawrence Hill Ward – 753 Send pupils
Hartcliffe and Withywood – 1094 Send pupils

The wards with the lowest Send population tends to remain unchanged over the years.

You can see each ward with the numbers of Send pupils here: http://chopsybaby.com/pupils-with-special-educational-needs-in-bristol.html

The English indicies of deprivation 2019 maps show these same four wards to be ones where income deprivation most affects children as well as the lack of attainment and skills in their ward populations.

Income deprivation affecting Bristol children 2019

Measuring the lack of attainment and skills in the local population 2019

When looking at the numbers of children being ‘electively’ home educated, the same wards with the highest number of Send children are the wards with the highest numbers of children learning at home.

Elective home education takes place when a family has made the decision to take responsibility for the education of a child and does so independently at home. Whilst this is a enriching and valid form of education for families choosing to take this route, ‘elective’ is not always a choice for Send families. It can be where off rolled and pushed out learners end up. These can be children with and without identified Send and with and without an EHCP.

A significant danger facing many families with Send children is that when a child’s disabilities impact on school attendance, parents feel they have no choice but to remove their children school. This is not only to avoid threats of fines, fines and court action, but also for their child’s own safety and well-being.

The number of children in ‘elective’ home education in Bristol in March 2022

The wards with the least amount of Send pupils also have the lowest numbers of pupils being home educated.

Hotwells and Harbourside Ward – None on table
Clifton Down Ward – Below 6
Cotham Ward – Below 6
St George Troopers Hill Ward – 6

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