Almost half of children needing support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) waited beyond the legal deadline for an education, health and care plan last year.
Government data shows the number of children waiting more than 20 weeks for an EHCP increased by 35 per cent in just one year.
Councils are legally required to issue EHCPs within 20 weeks of a request, except in certain situations where an exemption is in place.
Of 62,686 EHCPs issued in the 2022 calendar year without any exemption, just 50.7 per cent were issued by the legal deadline. This is down from 59.9 per cent in 2021, and the lowest level since current records began in 2015.
