Priority three - Education Health Care (EHC) needs assessments, plans, appeals and annual reviews meet statutory requirements
Our findings
We know that the timeliness of statutory processes for assessing, issuing and reviewing EHC Plans is important in ensuring children and young people receive the support they need. We also know that at present the capacity of the local SEND workforce is stretched and as a result too many statutory processes are not completed within the defined timescales.
Work needs to be undertaken to address this as we know that timely action and decision-making impacts on positive outcomes for our children and young people and their families.
| Geography | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 420 | 644 | 730 | 827 | 722 | 690 | 1,349 | 2,007 |
| West Midlands | 6,061 | 6,768 | 7,501 | 8,131 | 7,452 | 8,884 | 11,827 | 15,080 |
| England | 55,235 | 64,055 | 72,423 | 82,329 | 75,951 | 93,302 | 114,482 | 138,242 |
| Geography | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 2,962 | 3,260 | 3,509 | 3,848 | 4,299 | 4,563 | 4,768 | 5,314 | 6,054 |
| West Midlands | 29,875 | 32,247 | 36,320 | 39,570 | 41,897 | 46,127 | 49,505 | 52,986 | 59,551 |
| England | 256,315 | 287,290 | 319,819 | 353,995 | 390,109 | 430,697 | 473,255 | 517,049 | 575,963 |
Our actions
- Undertake system improvement work to meet the statutory timescales for the issuing of EHC Plans in light of the increased complexity of need and growing number of requests for assessment.
- Review the process used to complete Annual Reviews for the EHC Plans to ensure they are completed within the statutory 12-month timeframe.
- Review communications following panel decisions and follow up communications to see how this process can help improve the Graduated Approach in schools.
