Stockton-on-Tees Local Area SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy 2025 to 2030
2. Stockton-on-Tees Context
The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees is home to around 196,600 people (The Office for National Statistics, 2021) and is made up of seven towns (Billingham, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, Norton, Stockton, Thornaby, Yarm).
The proportion of 0 to 24 year olds in our population is projected to reduce from 57,613 to 55,000 by 2034 (The Office for National Statistics, 2021).
There is substantial variance of affluence and deprivation across the 27 wards within the borough. Overall, the borough ranks as the 73rd, out of 317, most deprived local authority area in England (Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2019).
Stockton-on-Tees key information and numbers:
- 56,424 children and young people (28.7% of the population) aged 0 to 24 (The Office for National Statistics, 2021)
- around 7,000 children live in households with "absolute low income" (19% of children in the Borough) (Department for Work and Pensions, 2024)
- in 2025 2,578 children and young people had an active Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- in 2025 4,665 children and young people received Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support
- in 2024 29.2% of children in our care held an EHCP
Stockton-on-Tees is home to:
- 4 family hubs
- 84 schools
- 95% of schools rated 'good' or 'outstanding' (Ofsted 2024)
- 9 libraries
- more than 30 parks and green spaces
