Dudley Council Faces Criticism Over Special Needs Assessment Delays
Dudley Council has come under significant criticism following the release of concerning statistics regarding special needs assessments for children. The data reveals that the authority managed to complete Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the legal time limit in just 21 percent of cases during the period from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. This represents a dramatic and worrying decline from the previous year's performance of 52 percent.
Legal Timelines Not Being Met
According to statutory requirements, EHCPs should be finalised within 20 weeks from the initial request. However, Dudley Council's average completion time for the 2025/26 period extended to 31 weeks, which is considerably worse than the 23-week average recorded in 2024/25. This substantial delay has sparked serious concerns among local officials and families.
Councillor Matt Cook, who has a four-year-old son with special needs, expressed his deep concern over the situation. He stated, "A 31-week wait for an EHCP isn't just a delay, it is a denial of support to children who need it most. These are not optional timelines, they are legal protections. To see performance deteriorate to this extent is deeply concerning."
National Comparison and Local Impact
When compared to national benchmarks, the decline appears even more stark. The last published national completion rate average stood at 46.4 percent for 2024, with data for 2025 expected to be available in May. Councillor Cook emphasised the severity of the local situation, noting, "The drop in EHCP timeliness, from 52 percent issued within 20 weeks down to just 21 percent is nothing short of a collapse in performance, particularly when compared to national benchmarks. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Families deserve urgency, accountability and above all, delivery. 31 weeks is simply unacceptable."
Council Response and Explanations
Dudley Council has attributed the decline in performance to several significant pressures. These include:
- Workforce retention challenges
- Increased sickness levels among staff
- A shortage of educational psychologists
- Sustained rise in requests for EHC needs assessments
Councillor Wayne Little, Dudley Council cabinet member for children and young people, explained, "It is important to understand that a number of significant pressures have contributed to this downturn, including workforce and resource challenges, increased sickness levels and significantly reduced capacity in key advice-giving services such as educational psychology. This along with a sustained rise in requests for EHC needs assessments—around ten percent growth year on year—have contributed to the pressures faced within SEND timeliness. These pressures mirror national trends but have had a more acute impact locally."
Improvement Measures Being Implemented
The council has outlined several measures being implemented to address the situation and improve performance:
- Investing in workforce development programmes
- Strengthening multi-agency quality assurance processes
- Taking steps to improve the quality of evidence submitted with assessment requests
Councillor Little added, "The actions above form part of a wider programme of SEND improvement across Dudley, and we are working closely with parent carers, schools and partners to drive the change needed. In the meantime we continue to keep parents updated via the Local Offer and through regular conversations with Dudley Parent Carer forum whilst being committed to working towards the SEND reform plans over the coming years."
The council's response indicates recognition of the serious nature of the performance decline, though local families and representatives continue to emphasise the urgent need for tangible improvements in assessment timelines to ensure children receive the support they require without excessive delays.
