DEVON County Council (DCC) is funding more than 1,000 high needs learners attending further education colleges, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

For the academic year 2024/25, DCC is funding 1,178 high needs learners, the FOI shows.

A high need learner is a learner with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

365 attend Exeter College and 149 attend South Devon College.

An EHC plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through the ordinarily available inclusive provision (OAIP) to support special educational needs in their mainstream nursery, school or college.

An EHC plan is a legal document that sets out a child or young person’s education, health and care needs and the additional support required.