News / SEND
More than 1,000 children waiting for EHCPs in Bristol
Bristol City Council could have the slowest Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) processing time in the country, with the city’s average now more than double the legally stipulated time.
According to a recent report, while authorities across England issued an average of 50.3 per cent EHCPs within the 20-week time frame, Bristol City Council managed to issue only 1 per cent of these plans as of February 28.
This is a further decline from the average of 17 per cent at the end of 2024, which is a steep fall from the 48.5 per cent average reported between January to December 2023.
is needed now More than ever
Chair of the children and young people committee and Green councillor, Christine Townsend, insisted that this lag was due to an “unprecedented pressure” on their teams.
In 2023, SEND parents were seen protesting for more support when applying to secondary schools for their children – photo: Hope Talbot
Townsend added: “The surge in demand — a 32 per cent increase in 2024 alone, compared to 11 per cent nationally — has placed unprecedented pressure on our teams, made worse by the previous administration’s decision to end non-statutory Top Up Funding, which at the time supported around 1,000 children.
“We’ve taken urgent steps to respond to the increasing demand for EHCPs.”
She added that a service restructuring completed in February will help in reducing the caseloads of current officers, thereby creating an increased capacity. Additionally, a £500,000 investment to expand the council’s educational psychology service will enable the team to carry out more assessments.
EHCPs are personalised documents issued to children and young people with SEND to help them secure better outcomes across health, education and social care while simultaneously preparing them for adulthood.
Legally, EHCPs must be issued within 20 weeks, which has now more than doubled for Bristol, with the council reporting an average processing time of 49.3 weeks in February.
According to the report dated May 8, only 78 EHCPs were finalised by the end of February with more than 1000 children and young people still awaiting their plans.
“I know the wait is very hard on families, and we are making steady progress — with 256 plans finalised so far this year, a significant increase from the same period last year,” said Townsend, acknowledging the situation.
“There is no quick fix, but we are committed to sustained and sustainable improvements over time, and ensuring that children and families receive the timely support they need. I will continue to monitor progress closely and push for the resources this service deserves.”
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Read more: Council sets out new SEND strategy
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Labour Councillor Kerry Bailes, who is also a campaigner for SEND, called the current EHCP figures “appalling”.
She continued: “This situation leaves parents and children in an awful limbo and cannot be allowed to continue.
“Addressing the SEND crisis is a challenge for all councils, but the fact that Bristol is the slowest in the country should set alarm bells ringing.
“At the end of 2023, 48.5% of EHCPs were issued on time. The Greens are taking our city in the wrong direction.
“Just listen to the experiences of SEND parents like me – they will tell you the situation feels much worse. EHCPs are essential for children to access education and healthcare – something needs to change.
“EHCP provision is a statutory duty – the public rightly expects the council to get this basic responsibility right. The Green-led council desperately needs to get a grip and turn things around urgently.”
Main photo: Karen Johnson
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