‘Do Not Be Fobbed Off’ Bristol Send Group Warns
Bristol Send Justice warns families about ‘unlawful’ delays
Parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) in Bristol are being warned not to be fobbed off by lengthy waits for Education Health Care Plans (EHCP).
Bristol Send Justice told families in the city this week that they should not be ‘fobbed off’ by Bristol City Council’s ‘party line’ of “we are going as fast as we can and you have to be patient.”
The campaign group raised concerns about a report to last month’s Children and Young People Policy Committee, showing that in May 2024, there were 959 children and young people waiting for an Education Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).
They also called the communication from the council to parents ‘gaslighting’ and ‘unlawful’.
According to the same report, just 12 per cent of the council’s plans were issued on time, lower than the England average of 50.3 per cent.
The report, presented by Executive Director for Children and Education (DCS) Hannah Woodhouse, also showed that there were 213 children and young people waiting for specialist provision.
The group also warned about the city’s initially secret and controversial Safety Valve programme which Bristol is now part of. Questions are being raised by the Bristol Send group about the ‘massive financial savings’ that will be required as part of the deal with the Department for Education.
Bristol Send Justice said: ‘A report presented to the Bristol City Council’s Children and young people committee at the end of August 24, shows us exactly how bad the situation for SEND children and their families currently is.
‘Over 950 children waiting for EHCP needs assessments and only 12% of assessments being completed within the statutory 20 weeks.How can the council justify moving onto the safety valve programme, which will require massive financial savings, when they aren’t even meeting their legal obligations currently?
‘Edit: Parents who are currently waiting more than 20 weeks for an EHCP needs assessment for their child – do not be fobbed of by the Council’s party line of “we are going as fast as we can and you have to be patient”. This is gaslighting and is unlawful and untrue.’
SOS SEN and IPSEA have many resources to support filing preaction paperwork for Judicial Review to ensure your child is assessed within the legal timeframes.’
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