Special needs plan successes in Wigan bucking the trend

But with frequent hold-ups elsewhere, campaigners say delays are “deeply frustrating” and reflect a system which is failing too many people with disabilities.

Department for Education data shows that all but three of the 217 new education, health and care plans issued in Wigan in 2019 were processed within the stipulated 20 weeks – among the highest proportions in the country.

Councils draw up EHC plans to explain the extra help required by someone with special educational, health and social care needs.

They were introduced in 2014 to replace statements for people with special educational needs and disability (SEND), and can be given to someone from their birth, up to the age of 25.

The figure in Wigan was in line with the proportion of plans dealt with in time during the previous year.

The figures exclude cases for which exemptions to the time limit applied.

Across England, 60.4 per cent of new plans were issued within 20 weeks last year.

This was just up from 60.1 per cent in 2018, but was worse than 64.3 per cent in 2014.

In Wigan, 254 new EHC plans were made for young people last year, slightly down from 266 in 2018.

This bucked the trend across the country, where 53,900 new plans were issued during 2019 – a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

The Local Government Association said the rise in plans was putting more pressure on the SEND system, and that it was concerned that local authorities will be unable to cope with demand.