News

Concerns about capacity of SEN Team

8th September 2014

  • Several parents have contacted us to express concerns about a lack of communication regarding school placement decisions, as well as delays in issuing final statements.

    The backlog appears to be a result of capacity issues in the SEN Assessment and Placement Team, which deals with statements and specialist placements. Due to unfilled vacancies and staff illness, the Team was operating at a third of its capacity just before the summer holidays.

    Officers have assured us that all of the vacancies have now been recruited to. Additional government funding is being used to employ four extra members of staff on one-year contracts to handle the transition to EHC plans. The team will then consist of 16 full-time workers.

    Between September 2014 and April 2018, the team will have to convert an average of 54 statements and LDAs into Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans every month.