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Time Spent on Process for New Education, Health and Care Plans by Local Authority Professionals. Research Report

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Time Spent on Process for New Education, Health and Care Plans by Local Authority Professionals. Research Report
Language: English
Authors: Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom)
Source: UK Department for Education. 2026.
Availability: UK Department for Education. Castle View House East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ, UK. Tel: +44-37-0000-2288; Fax: +44-19-2873-8248; Web site: http://www.education.gov.uk
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 46
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Planning, Educational Needs, Needs Assessment, Special Education, Special Needs Students, Students with Disabilities, Health Services, Access to Health Care, Caseworker Approach, Time on Task, Educational Psychology, Psychologists, School Social Workers, Speech Language Pathology, Allied Health Personnel
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
ISBN: 978-1-83870-748-4
Abstract: The Department for Education (DfE) conducted this research to better understand how much professional time is spent on the process of conducting Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and the development and issuing of EHC plans (EHCPs). As set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014, and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice, an EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person's education, health and social care needs. It is a process carried out by the local authority to determine whether a child or young person requires an EHCP. An EHCP is a plan that specifies the child or young person's special educational needs, the outcomes sought for them, the special educational provision and any health and/or social care provision required by them. The process of the EHC needs assessment and EHCP plan development and issuing, from the point when an assessment is requested (or an local authority otherwise becomes 'responsible' for the child or young person) until any final EHCP is issued, must be done as soon as practicable and in any event take no more than 20 weeks (unless exceptions apply). The process is managed by local authority SEND teams with families and involving input from education settings, Educational Psychologists, social workers and other professionals including health professionals such as speech and language therapists. In July and August 2025, DfE conducted a survey of local authority professions to understand how many hours they spent on the processes for EHC needs assessments and the developing and issuing of EHCPs. The findings in this report can be used to help understand the effects of the increasing number of assessments and plans on the SEND system and its workforce.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679972
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The Department for Education (DfE) conducted this research to better understand how much professional time is spent on the process of conducting Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and the development and issuing of EHC plans (EHCPs). As set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014, and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice, an EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person's education, health and social care needs. It is a process carried out by the local authority to determine whether a child or young person requires an EHCP. An EHCP is a plan that specifies the child or young person's special educational needs, the outcomes sought for them, the special educational provision and any health and/or social care provision required by them. The process of the EHC needs assessment and EHCP plan development and issuing, from the point when an assessment is requested (or an local authority otherwise becomes 'responsible' for the child or young person) until any final EHCP is issued, must be done as soon as practicable and in any event take no more than 20 weeks (unless exceptions apply). The process is managed by local authority SEND teams with families and involving input from education settings, Educational Psychologists, social workers and other professionals including health professionals such as speech and language therapists. In July and August 2025, DfE conducted a survey of local authority professions to understand how many hours they spent on the processes for EHC needs assessments and the developing and issuing of EHCPs. The findings in this report can be used to help understand the effects of the increasing number of assessments and plans on the SEND system and its workforce.
ISBN:978-1-83870-748-4