THE number of children in Somerset requiring a formal agreement for extra help with special educational needs has risen by 61 per cent since 2010, new figures reveal.

In January this year there were 1,730 children and young people in Somerset with education, health and care (EHC) plans or special educational needs (SEN) statements - legal documents which describe the additional support and funding a child or young person needs- compared to 1,076 SEN statements in 2010.

Since 2014, EHC plans have been rolled out to replace SEN statements.

The most common need for children and young people with EHC plans is support for autistic spectrum disorder.

Tim Nicholls, the policy manager at the National Autistic Society, said: "The number of children who need support is growing. So it's more important than ever that local authorities know how many children on the autism spectrum are in their area, and what their needs are, so they can plan the right number of school places and the right type of support in different types of schools.

"The information published last week is all about numbers and doesn't tell us anything about the quality of EHC plans, and the difference they are making to children's lives.

"The House of Commons Education Select Committee is carrying out an inquiry into how the SEND reforms are working, and we hope that the committee will take a good look at the quality of plans, not just at the numbers of children who have them."

EHC plans are available to young people under 25. The largest group are aged 11 to 15.

In Somerset, 314 children were assessed last year and 302 were given a plan.

Across England, there were nearly 320,000 young people with plans or the SEN statements in January of this year.

The Minister for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi, said: "We want every child to have the support they need to unlock their potential, no matter what challenges they face."