More boys than girls with special needs

BOYS are more likely to have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties than girls, official figures have revealed.

Statistics published by the Department for Education show that almost one in six boys – 17.2 per cent – with statements of special educational needs (SEN) had these problems reported as their "primary need".

This is compared with just 6.2 per cent of girls with SEN statements.

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Yesterday's figures showed that "moderate learning difficulties" are more prevalent among girls than boys.

While more than one in five – 22.6 per cent – of girls with SEN statements had this recorded as their "primary need", only one in six boys – 16.5 per cent – had the same difficulty reported.

The statistics also give an new breakdown of SEN by local authority. It shows that Kent has the highest number of SEN youngsters with statements – 6,492, followed by Birmingham with 6,119 children and Essex with 6,086.