SEND

SEND: Two in five EHCP decisions took more than 6 months

It comes as MPs warn ministers of desperate situations in their constituencies

It comes as MPs warn ministers of desperate situations in their constituencies

Nearly two in five decisions on education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for pupils with SEND took more than six months last year, new data reveals. 

The government has for the first time released data on how long it took councils to decide on EHCPs, which have soared 140 per cent in 10 years. 

It came in the week of three parliamentary debates on the broken SEND system, increasing pressure on the new ministerial team to come up with a solution. 

The Department for Education currently publishes the rates at which councils issue EHCPs within the deadline of 20 weeks.

This stood at 50.3 per cent in 2023. Councils also have 16 weeks to let families know if they decide not to issue a plan. 

The new data shows 37 per cent of about 90,000 decisions made by councils in 2023 took more than six months. Nearly 6 per cent – about 5,000 – took more than a year. 

In Essex, 96.8 per cent took more than six months, of which 15.2 per cent took more than 12. The data collection is in its second year, with the DfE saying it expects the quality to “improve over time”. 

Catherine McKinnell, the schools minister, said the figures “show that children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families are often being left in limbo for far too long”. 

MPs told McKinnell about the desperate situations in their constituencies. 

Alistair Strathern, the Labour MP for Hitchin, said the stories of 100 young people “has truly broken my heart”.

Cat McKinnell SEND minister
Cat McKinnell

“Devastatingly and particularly heartbreakingly, we heard from the parents of Alice who, after feeling isolated and alienated by the delays in getting the right support in place at school, felt that she had no option available other than to attempt to take her own life.

“What more damning indictment of our failure could there be?”

Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, told a Westminster Hall debate how Somerset council said “the lynchpin for the system failing has been the inability of mainstream education to cope with the sheer increase in demand within such a short time”. 

McKinnell said the government would work with parents, schools, councils and expert staff to ensure their approach “is fully planned and delivered”. 

It would look at the national funding formula and “the way in which the high-needs funding allocated to local authorities is used. 

“We need to take time, if there are any changes to that formula, to ensure that we consider the impact and get it right.”

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Navigating NPQ Funding Cuts: An Apprenticeship Success Story

Last year’s NPQ funding cuts meant that half of England’s teachers faced costs of up to £4,000 to complete...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Embedding Formative Assessment: not just a box-ticking exercise but something long-term and meaningful for all

Our EFA programme has been proven to help schools achieve better GCSE results, as evidenced by the EEF. Find...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building capacity in family support to tackle low school attendance 

Persistent and severe school absence impacts children, families, and communities—especially in disadvantaged areas. School-Home Support’s Attendance Support and Development Programme...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

SEND

Absent and excluded kids ‘should be assessed for SEND’

EPI report sets out 7 policy recommendations to tackle special needs 'postcode lottery'

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
SEND

Revealed: The experts appointed to SEND inclusion panels

The government has appointed a team of experts to evaluate how to make mainstream schools more inclusive

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
SEND

‘Umbrella’ SEND label is ‘misleading’, says inclusion tsar

The government’s inclusion tsar believes 'a lot of what we categorise as ‘special’ is normal and predictable'

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
SEND

Councils kept waiting on key SEND deficit ‘override’ decision

Cash-strapped councils now face waiting until next year for an update on what will happen when the statutory override...

Lucas Cumiskey

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *