Three-Year-Old Faces Year-Long Wait for SEND Assessment

A mother whose child has additional needs has been informed that an essential assessment will require approximately a year’s wait. Megan, residing in Saffron Walden, described it as “outrageous” that her three-year-old daughter might commence school lacking appropriate support. Previously this year, Essex County Council disclosed that merely 1% of children obtained an education, health and care plan (EHCP) within the statutory 20-week period. Nevertheless, the local authority stated that this percentage had risen to 40% since September. Megan stated, “It’s a fight every step of the way.” She further elaborated, “Raising a child with Send (special educational needs and disabilities) kids is hard enough, but when you then have to deal with the system on top of that to try and get the best for your children, there’s a huge impact both financially and on relationships.” Megan added, “It can be a real strain.” According to Megan, her daughter Joy experiences additional needs, specifically autism, global developmental delay, and a speech impairment. She indicated that she initially submitted a request for an EHC needs assessment to the council in March. Nonetheless, a letter reviewed by the BBC showed that the council informed her an educational psychologist (EP) assessment would not be available for approximately a year. The EHCP, provided to parents subsequent to the EP assessment, specifies the assistance a child is legally entitled to receive, including one-to-one support within educational settings. Megan mentioned that the council did not consider Joy’s privately funded EP assessment. Maria Bloom, a member of the legal team at the charity Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA), stated that local authorities face a “no-win” situation. Essex County Council has previously cited a nationwide scarcity of qualified educational psychologists (EPs). Ms. Bloom commented: “They are breaking the law if they don’t obtain information from an educational psychologist – which they are responsible for commissioning – and they’re also breaking the law if they fail to comply with the statutory timescale.” Megan expressed understanding for the pressures experienced by council personnel. Data from the local authority indicates that requests for EHCPs in Essex saw a 143% increase from 2015 to 2023. As of January, 13,278 children in Essex were classified as having “high needs.” The council announced an investment of £2.9m this year aimed at decreasing EHCP waiting periods. Tony Ball, the Conservative cabinet member for education, reported that approximately 40% of plans have been issued within the 20-week timeframe since the commencement of the academic year. He further explained, “However, local government finances can also only stretch so far.” Ball added, “We need the government to work with young people, their families, schools, councils and local health services to bring about the changes that are so desperately required.” In October, the National Audit Office stated that parents had lost confidence in a SEND system “in urgent need of reform.” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson commented this week that she “hears the frustration” of parents, but noted that substantial changes would require time.