EXCLUSIVE: 769 children in Norfolk didn't get documents for SEND education in required timeframe
Total funding put towards SEND education and disabilities support reached £273 million in Norfolk last year
Figures exclusively seen by us show that 769 children in Norfolk didn't get official documents needed to access SEND education within the required timeframe last year.
That equates to over 41% of all Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) issued in the county.
It's despite the total funding for this in Norfolk reaching nearly £240 million in 2024 - the highest in five years.
"It's confirmed to us as parents that we were right to go down this route and fight"
Danny Fowler is from Sprowston. His daughter Anastasia waited over a year for her plan:
"Just getting that piece of paper, that basically says 'yes' your child does have these issue and this is the support they need, it's phenomenal.
"We have managed to get our daughter into a specialist setting which has helped her thrive. It's confirmed to us as parents that we were right to go down this route and fight."
Lucie Oakes lives in from Norwich. Her son Logan waited just short of 2 years for his plan:
"He was in mainstream education and he constantly getting excluded. We were sat there waiting, waiting and waiting for his plan.
"It was horrific for us. I had to leave my job to ensure that he was fully supported. To parents out there who are going through this now don't give up, it's worth the fight in the end."
The numbers:
Number of ECHP plans not returned in the allotted 20 weeks
2024- 41.2% (769)
2023- 57.4% (1,143)
2022- 46.9% (439)
2021- 46.4% (426)
2020- 79.5% (898)
Total Funding: (Norfolk County Council Funding and Dedicated School Grant)
2023/24- £239.5mill
2022/23- £198.06mill
2021/22- £172.5mill
2020/21- £150.8mill
The full dataset:
What has Norfolk County Council said on this?
A spokesperson from Norfolk County Council said:
“We want every child with special educational needs and disabilities to be able to flourish and, wherever possible, we want that to be at their local mainstream school, alongside their friends and siblings. Most children with SEND do not need an EHCP and our strategy aims to get help to children and families much earlier, so that children’s needs do not escalate.
“There has been national recognition, including from government, that the current SEND system needs reform. Local authorities and schools are struggling to cope with increasing demand and more complex needs, and this is putting huge pressure on our limited resources. In Norfolk, we have seen a 62% increase in the number of EHCPs issued in the last four years, whilst at the same time improving the proportion that are completed within timescale – up from 21% in 2020 to 59% in 2024.
“We want every child to get the help they need as quickly as possible and we have offered to work alongside the Government to shape their programme of reform, as well as calling for funding that better reflects the cost of providing support for the growing numbers of children with SEND.”