At Seashell, we are proud to share the findings of our Complex Needs Mapping Report, a project launched in May 2024 to address the national data gap surrounding children and young adults (CYA) with complex disabilities.
As a leading provider of highly specialist education and support, we know first-hand the challenges of planning services without consistent, reliable data. Our report brings together insights from across the sector, including responses from 15 specialist providers and condition-specific charities, to better understand the evolving needs of this population and the pressures facing those who support them.
Our key findings include:
- Around 1,800 CYA with complex needs are currently educated across 18 specialist providers.
- Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and Severe Learning Difficulties are the most prevalent primary needs.
- The complexity of need is increasing, with more CYA presenting with significant health challenges, behavioural needs and mental health difficulties.
- Specialist providers are planning to expand, with a projected 15.67% increase in education placements and 25.21% increase in residential placements.
We also found that 93% of providers reported an increase in mental health needs, and many highlighted workforce training and environmental capacity as key barriers to meeting demand. These findings reflect national trends and reinforce the urgent need for strategic planning and investment.
To support this, we have begun aligning our internal data with SNOMED-CT health definitions (the most comprehensive and precise clinical health terminology used to record patient data consistently in electronic health records) and we are advocating for a standardised approach to data collection across education, health, and social care. This will help ensure that services are targeted effectively and that families, commissioners, and providers have a clearer understanding of what we offer.
Here at Seashell, our campus transformation journey continues, with new facilities and expanded outreach services helping us extend our impact beyond our campus in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester. This is only made possible by capital fundraising and close relationships with generous trusts, foundations and philanthropists. We also must raise more than £1.5m each year to support the everyday needs of our students beyond their Government-funded educational packages.
By working in partnership with other providers and sharing our expertise, we aim to support more CYA to achieve their greatest potential in the right setting, at the right time.
This report is just the beginning. We are committed to building a stronger evidence base, supporting workforce development, and championing the needs of children and young adults with the most complex needs in the country.
Click here for the high-level summary
