Nine in 10 support plans for young people are on time
More than nine in 10 support plans for young people with special educational needs in North Yorkshire were completed within the legal time limit last year, putting it among the best performing areas in England.
But with frequent holdups elsewhere, campaigners say delays are “deeply frustrating” and reflect a system whichisfailingtoomanypeople with disabilities.
Department for Education data shows 91.4% of the 382 new education, health and care plans issued in North Yorkshire in 2019 were processed within 20 weeks – among the highest proportions in the country.
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.
Across England, 60.4% of new plans were issued within 20 weeks last year. This was just up from 60.1% in 2018, but was worse than 64.3% in 2014.
The Local Government Association said the rise was putting more pressure on the SEND system.
The Department for Education said it knew that “timeliness is a concern in some areas”, and that it was working to make necessary improvements. It said: “We have increased the high needs budget to well over £7 billion this year – an increase of 12% nationally compared to last year – and our SEND review will look at how we improve the system for those who need support.”