Low Timely Completion Rate for Somerset SEND Assessments

In Somerset, only one-fourth of the evaluations for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been completed within the mandated period recently. During a meeting of Somerset Council’s executive committee held on Monday, it was disclosed that 26.9% of Education, Health and Care Plan assessments were finalized within the 20-week target during the months of July, August, and September of the current year. The executive councillor responsible acknowledged that significant improvement might not be seen until April of next year, coinciding with the implementation of a staffing restructure. The director of children’s services expressed that she was “confident” the target would be met “over time”. Councillor Heather Shearer, the Liberal Democrat lead member for children, families, and education, suggested that “uncertainty and discomfort” surrounding the council’s ongoing restructure could be a contributing factor to the recent subpar performance. Across the authority, 450 positions are presently subject to potential compulsory redundancy, with a consultation process scheduled to continue until later this month. Claire Winter, executive director for children and families, additionally indicated that some delays might be attributable to the school summer holidays and efforts to address a backlog of more intricate cases, which inherently require more time for resolution. The 26.9% figure represents the lowest completion rate for assessments within the designated timeframe over the last year, contrasting with the highest rate of 57.5% recorded in October, November, and December of 2023. Somerset Council has been conducting consultations regarding modifications to its SEND provision and has previously drawn criticism from parents due to an increasing volume of complaints directed at the authority.