SEND parent on council not meeting legal timeframes

The comments come following statistics from Ofsted, published on Wednesday, that found that Suffolk came 19th out of 147 local authorities rated for meeting legal timeframes in 2022.

Inspections were published from authorities across England last year, along with timeliness rates in 2022.

EHCPs are set up to describe a child's special educational needs and disabilities and the health and social care provision that is needed to meet them, and local authorities must finalise an EHCP within 20 weeks of the initial request for assessment.

Read more:

• Suffolk child with SEND 'left in limbo' by council over appropriate school

• New 'national body' for SEND welcomed by Suffolk campaigner

• Two new schools ‘too little too late’ to tackle SEND crisis, parents say

• Suffolk council set to receive nearly £11m for SEND

• Three senior Suffolk councillors quit after damning Ofsted report into SEND service

• 'Actions speak louder than words' says SEND family after council apology for failings

The rate of EHC plans finalised by the deadline, without exceptions, was 49.2 nationally, and 22.8 in Suffolk.

Natasha Sones, who lives in Rendlesham, near Woodbridge, says the council has still not provided an EHC plan for her ten-year-old son Logan within the timeframe.

"This is not a surprise, and I know many people who are still waiting for EHCPs, myself included, beyond the legal timeframe," Ms Sones said.

"We have had an assessment from an educational psychologist but still waiting for the EHCP. We originally applied in October. We are still in the same frustrating situation."

Ten-year-old Logan and Lucas, 12. (Image: Contributed)

In January, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) jointly inspected Suffolk County Council's SEND services and found "widespread and/or systemic failings".

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: “In partnership with our NHS colleagues, we have significant plans in place to reform SEND services.

“These plans are rightly scrutinised and monitored by outside experts, including the Department for Education, and we are held accountable for the pace and effectiveness of improvement at every stage.

"This improvement includes the timeliness of issuing education, health and care plans.

“We recognise that services haven’t been good enough, but the council remains committed to delivering the best for our children and young people.”