EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLBEING SCHOOL-AGED READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE 202220 NEET YOUNG PEOPLE In February 2025, there were 92 16-17-year-olds in Carlisle classed as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)21 or whose status is Not Known (NK), with Carlisle having the highest NEET rate in Cumbria.22 SEND SUPPORT In 2021, the percentage of children receiving Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support in Carlisle was 12.1%, similar to the national average (12.2%) and the Cumbria average (11.9%). The percentage of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement of SEND was the same as the national average at 3.7%.23 Cumberland Council reports that the number of children with an EHCP has increased since 2019 and is predicting that the number of children will continue to increase in future years.24 In 2019-20 in Cumberland 3.5% of children had an EHCP. In 2023-24 this rose to 5.1%.25 The greatest primary need for pupils with an EHCP in Cumberland is Autistic Spectrum Disorder (34.4% of all pupils with an EHCP).26 PROPORTION OF PUPILS WITH AN EHCP BY PRIMARY NEED; CUMBERLAND AND ENGLAND 2023/24 Increasing rates of children with special educational needs are also leading to rising demands for clinical support. North Cumbria Integrated Care paediatric services for Autism Spectrum Disorders and speech and language difficulties has seen a six-fold increase in referrals in the last three years (2020-2023). Increasing demand has in turn led to rising waiting times, negatively impacting children and families.27 Physical Health EARLY YEARS AND MATERNAL HEALTH It is important that mothers, and their babies are healthy. In Cumberland, the rate of mothers smoking at the time of delivery is 7.9%, similar to the England average of 7.4%.28 The number of term babies with a low birth weight is also the same as the England average (2.9%)29. However, it is concerning that the number of babies in Cumberland whose first feed is breastmilk is low at 55.8% compared to the England average of 71.9%.30 CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood obesity is a product of many factors, including genetics, poverty, family habits and access to physical activity opportunities. In 2019/2020 the percentage of overweight and obese children in reception year was 23.2% in Carlisle (England 23%). For children in year 6 (aged 10 – 11 years) the percentage of children who were overweight or obese in 2019/2020 was 32.8% (national average of 35.2%).31 Whilst the figures for Carlisle are broadly in line with national averages, the percentages of children who are overweight and obese in both age categories are still high. It is concerning that so many children are overweight and obese, with childhood obesity increasing the risk of developing a range of health conditions in childhood and later life.32 25Cumbria Intelligence Observatory, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities dashboard, 2023-24 (Cumberland) https://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/children/senddashboard/#:~:text=Special%20Educational%20Needs%20and%20Disabilities%20dashboard%2C%202023%2D24%20(Cumberland) 26Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) JSNA, Cumberland Council, 2024. 27What is “normal”, anyway? De-medicalising Mental Health and Neurodiversity: Cumberland Council, 2024, 28Smoking Status at Time of Delivery -Fingertips Public Health Profile, Department of Health and Social Care, 2023/2024 https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles/ data#page/3/gid/8000073/pat/6/par/E12000002/ati/502/are/E06000063/iid/93085/age/1/sex/2/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/car-do-0 29Low Birth Weight of Term Babies 2022 - Fingertips Public Health Profile: Department of Health and Social Care, 2022 https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/babys#page/1/gid/1/pat/6/ par/E12000002/ati/502/are/E 06000063/iid/93932/age/309/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/car-ao-0_car-do-0 30Baby’s First Feed Breastmilk - Fingertips Public Health Profile: Department of Health and Social Care,2023/2024 https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/babys#page/1/gid/1/pat/6/par/ E12000002/ati/502/are/E06000063/iid/93932/age/309/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/car-ao-0_car-do-0 31Cumbria Intelligence Observatory, Key Children and Young People Statistics: Profile: Cumbria & Districts (2022) https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/671/4674/17217/17219/4315312342.pdf 32Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: https://stateofchildhealth.rcpch.ac.uk/evidence/prevention-of-ill-health/healthy-weight/ 33Children and Young People Activity Data (Active Lives Survey): Sport England, 2023, https://activelives.sportengland.org/Home/ActivityData and Active Lives Children and Young People survey (2022-2023 academic year): Sport England, 2023 https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/childrens-activity-levels-hold-firm-significant-challenges-remain Data from 1,692 responses between 01/06/22 - 30/09/22 Child appearing anxious Child appearing stressed/angry Family mental health problem affecting child Family physical health problem affecting child Displaying worrying behaviour 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 % Multi-Sensory Impairment Other Difficulty/Disability Moderate Learning Difficulty Hearing Impairment Visual Impairment Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulty Specific Learning Difficulty Physical Disability Social, Emotional and Mental Health Severe Learning Difficulty Speech, Language and Communications needs Autistic Spectrum Disorder Pupils with an EHCP by Primary Need England Cumberland Source: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in England; DIE; June 2024, Data does not include Independent Schools 34www.sportengland.org Carlisle: Opportunities & Challenges 2025 14 15
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