Peterborough youngsters ‘failed’ by delays in special educational needs support plans

Campaigners say delays across the country are “deeply frustrating” and reflect a system which is failing too many people with disabilities.

Department for Education data shows only 65.4 per cent of the 136 new education, health and care plans issued in Peterborough in 2019 were processed within 20 weeks, meaning 47 people waited longer.

Councils draw up EHC plans to explain the extra help required by someone with special educational, health and social care needs.

They were introduced in 2014 to replace statements for people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and can be given to someone from their birth, up to the age of 25.

The figure in Peterborough represents a drop from the previous year, when 73.8 per cent were dealt with in the 20 week timeframe.

The figures exclude cases for which exemptions to the time limit were applied.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “Our figure is slightly above the regional average of 65 per cent and this is due in part to a high number of caseloads. However, we are actively working to improve performance and have appointed new staff and made IT improvements to help achieve this.”

Across England, 60.4 per cent of new plans were issued within 20 weeks last year. This was just up from 60.1 per cent in 2018, but worse than 64.3 per cent in 2014.

The Council for Disabled Children, an umbrella body for groups working in the disabled children’s sector, said the delays “are deeply frustrating and add to the many pressures that the families of disabled children face”.

Director Dame Christine Lenehan said: “Sadly, this situation reflects a system that, as has been well documented, is failing too many children and young people.”

She added that a review of the sector – announced by the Government last year – needed to address these problems when it gets under way.

The Disabled Children’s Partnership added that it is “deeply concerning” so many children are not getting help within the required time.

MPs recently warned that many of the 1.3 million school-age children across England with special educational needs are not getting the support they need.

The report by the Public Accounts Committee said this was “a failure that damages their education, well-being and future life chances”.

The document also said EHC plans have become “a ‘golden ticket’ that parents fight for to secure access to adequate support for their children”.

In Peterborough, 175 new EHC plans were made for young people last year, down from 187 in 2018.

This bucked the trend across the country, where 53,900 new plans were issued during 2019 – a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

The Local Government Association said the rise was putting more pressure on the SEND system and that it was concerned local authorities will be unable to cope with demand.

Judith Blake, chairwoman of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “Councils are therefore continuing to work closely with the Government on the review of the SEND system.

“It is essential that the review gives councils, as local leaders, the powers to hold partners to account so that children and families receive the best SEND support.”

The Department for Education said it knew that “timeliness is a concern in some areas” and that it was working to make necessary improvements.

A spokesman added: “We have increased the high needs budget to well over £7 billion this year – an increase of 12 per cent nationally compared to last year – and our SEND review will look at how we improve the system for those who need support.”