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Children of ethnic minority groups are over-represented for some types of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and under-represented for other types, compared to White British pupils, according to new Oxford University research. Image credit: Shutterstock

Ethnic minority children not equally identified with Special Education Needs

Children of ethnic minority groups are over-represented for some types of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and under-represented for other types, compared to White British pupils, according to new Oxford University research. 

The report finds that:

  • Asian pupils (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Other Asian) are half as likely to be identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as White British pupils
  • Black Caribbean and Mixed White & Black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to be identified with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs as White British pupils.

The report, conducted by Professor Steve Strand at the Department of Education at Oxford, looks at all school aged children aged 5-16 who have been identified with different types of SEN in England. While similar research has been conducted in the US, it is the first time a study with this detail has been done in the UK.

With ethnic minority groups now accounting for one-third (30%) of school aged pupils in England, the issue is particularly pertinent.

The project involved a comprehensive analysis of the England National Pupil Database to identify ethnic disproportionality in the identification of SEN throughout the period 2005 - 2016. The findings show the patterns of ethnic disproportionality described above are substantial and have been consistent for over a decade.

The study also considered whether socio-economic factors such as poverty and neighbourhood deprivation, or children’s early attainment / development on-entry to school, had any impact on their being found to have SEN.

Steve Strand, Professor of Education at Oxford and Principal Investigator on the work, said: 'While ethnic disproportionality for some special needs, like Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), can be accounted for by socio-economic background and early attainment / development on entry to school, this research indicates that neither factor explains the ethnic disproportionality in the identification of ASD or SEMH.

The upshot is that some Asian pupils may not be receiving the access to specialist resources and support they need with autistic spectrum disorders, while some Black Caribbean children may be suffering an inappropriate or narrowed curriculum from unwarranted over-identification, particularly in secondary school'.

The report argues lower awareness of autism, of parent’s rights, linguistic barriers to access, and cultural variation in social attitudes to disability have a role in the under-identification of Asian pupils with autism. School policies or factors play very little role. However variation between schools is more influential in the over-representation of Black Caribbean and Mixed White & Black Caribbean students for SEMH, particularly in the secondary phase and in high poverty schools, which may reflect different contexts, such as high crime rates or gang culture, or variation in school disciplinary strategies.

The project has also published reports for each of the 150 Local Authorities (LA) in England, identifying rates of ethnic over and under-identification in each LA. While differences between LA’s were not a substantial driver of disproportionality they did exist. For example, Black Caribbean pupils were less likely than White British pupils to be identified with SEMH in Newham, but three times more likely among pupils in Kensington & Chelsea.

André Imich, SEND Professional Adviser at the Department for Education, said 'We expect these reports to be useful to Local Authorities in considering issues of ethnic disproportionality and SEN provision in their local areas'.