Somerset Conservatives have welcomed signs that the Liberal Democrat administration is now moving towards investing in SEND services, after previously voting down proposals to tackle delays in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
At the annual budget meeting, Somerset Conservatives put forward a targeted proposal to invest in EHCP delivery, focused on increasing capacity and speeding up assessments. That proposal was not supported by the Liberal Democrat administration.
However, a recent report has now confirmed the scale of the challenge facing the council’s SEND services. The report shows that between 0–5% of EHCP assessments are being completed within the legal 20-week timeframe, placing the council in breach of its statutory duties and leaving many children and families waiting too long for support .
The same report identifies delays in Educational Psychology advice, averaging 27 weeks, as a key factor in the backlog, and confirms that additional resource is required to address the issue .
During a recent Executive meeting, councillors confirmed that a decision on additional resource will now be brought forward in June.
Councillor Frances Nicholson, the Opposition Lead Member for Children, Families and Education said,
“This report confirms what we have been saying for some time, that too many children and families are being let down by delays in the EHCP process.
“We put forward a clear, costed proposal at the budget to increase capacity and speed up assessments, but that was voted down.
“It is welcome that the administration now appears to recognise both the scale of the problem and the need for additional investment. This is a step in the right direction.
“The commitment to bring forward a decision on how to tackle the EHCP delays in June is positive, and we will be looking closely at those proposals. The focus must be on doing the right thing to support children and families across Somerset.”
The council’s report warns that without additional resource, the backlog of EHCP assessments could rise significantly, with waiting times potentially exceeding 52 weeks.
Somerset Conservatives will continue to push for timely decisions and targeted investment to ensure children receive the support they need without unnecessary delay.
