Barnet’s Labour Council bucks national trend in delivering Educational Health and Care plans for pupils

Barnet’s Labour Council bucks national trend in delivering Educational Health and Care plans for pupils
Barnet’s Labour Council has overwhelmingly outperformed national trends in delivering a key Special Educational Needs assessment.
It was revealed at a recent council meeting that 100 per cent of applications for an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for pupils which result in a positive decision receive such a plan within 20 weeks, the national target.
This compares to 70 per cent a cross London and only around 50 per cent across England.
An EHCP is a legal document which describes the special education, health and care needs of a child; sets out what extra support they require and identifies what outcomes the child would like to achieve.
It supports parents to work with Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators in their child’s school. Not being able to secure an EHCP can hamper efforts to ensure the child is provided with the interventions they need.
Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, Cllr Pauline Coakley-Webb said: “Getting an EHCP is vital for families that need them, and delays – that are typical around the country – can be debilitating.
“That’s why I want to thank all our staff who ensure we meet the 20-week statutory deadline 100 per cent of the time. They really are a beacon of best practice in this area.”