THERE were 2,949 children with documented special education needs in Gwent during 2010/11, new statistics show.

New figures from the Welsh Assembly Government reveal that the number of pupils with statements of special educational needs in the region has fallen every year since 2004/05, when there were 3,462 children statemented, and 2009/10 when there were 3,063.

Children with special education needs are those with learning difficulties or disabilities that can make it more difficult for them to benefit from education than children the same age.

Statements on their needs are made after local authorities assess the child and lay out the specialist help and provision they may need.

Newport saw the largest amount of statemented pupils in 2010/11, with 878 classed with special needs.

Its rate of statemented children has also fallen every year since 2004/05 when there were 1,119.

It was the same picture in Torfaen where in 2010/11 there were 282 children with statements, almost half since 2004/05 when there were 452.

In Caerphilly the number of statemented pupils has dropped since 2007/08 when there were 984 statemented pupils to 2010/11 when there were 876.

Although Blaenau Gwent’s figure is below that of 2004/05 – 485 – numbers have risen since 2007/08 from 354 to 390 in 2010/11.

Monmouthshire had 523 children with statemented special needs in 2010/11, a figure that has risen every year since 2004/05, when there were 449.