More than half of children in the North East who need special educational needs and disabilities assessments are waiting too long and the delays are only getting worse.
00:00New government figures reveal that in 2024, just 49% of education, health and care plans, known as EHC plans, were issued within the legal 20-week deadline.
00:10That's down from 53% the previous year.
00:13At the same time, the number of North East children with EHC plans has risen sharply, growing by more than 3,000, from just over 26,000 to nearly 29,400 by January 2025.
00:25Education Secretary Bridget Philipson has described the SEND system as on its knees, saying too many families are left fighting for support that should be readily available.
00:37The demand for SEND services has been climbing nationwide, leaving councils struggling with massive financial pressures, some even facing the threat of bankruptcy.
00:47And there's grown criticism from watchdogs and MPs that there's still no clear plan to fix the crisis.
00:53In the North East, Autism Spectrum Disorder is the most common primary need in EHC plans, followed by social, emotional and mental health needs.
01:03Some areas have seen particularly stark figures.
01:06In Newcastle, for example, just 2.5% of plans were completed on time in October 2024.
01:12That's improved in recent months, rising to 41.9% by March.
01:17But it's still below both local and national targets.
01:20Philipson says the government has already invested £740 million to expand places in mainstream schools and increase early access to speech, language and neurodiversity support.
01:33More reform plans are expected this autumn, but with thousands of children still waiting, many families and councils say action is needed now, not later.
