How long do EHCP plans really take?

[nancyclancy123]

Just this really. We applied for an EHCP 20 weeks ago and they agreed to assess my dd, educational psychologist has been and gone and both us and her current school have received the report back over 3 weeks ago.
I phoned our officer dealing with my dd case this morning and she hasn't added the Ed Psych's report to her report yet (she's been on leave) and she'll let me know in 3 weeks, taking us to the 21st August. In this date, we should know if they've agreed to issue her with an EHCP or not.
Is it common for this to happen? Thank you

My daughter's EHC plan which was converted from a statement took well over 40 weeks!

Thanks for your replies . Maybe it won't be sorted by September then.

It should take no longer than 20 weeks for the whole process, it can be extended by up to 4weeks due to the summer holidays. By week 16 (I think) they should have informed you of whether or not they were going to issue an ehcp.

vjg my sons transfer from statement to ehcp took 22 MONTHS according to the LA paperwork and they didn't even carry out a full needs assessments despite repeated requests for new reports.

We are hoping to get my daughter into a special school for September, she's had taster sessions etc and has got on great.
She's now left her mainstream school, her place has been filled, so no going back there now.
I'm worried she'll have no school for September now.

Although I'm sure we're not the only ones in this position!

Did you deregister her from mainstream? Why would her place have been filled if you don't have a space at the special school? Or have you been given a space there and are awaiting the EHCP?

If your past week 16 email the caseworker to say that as they haven't informed you by week 16 they aren't issuing as per statutory guidelines you are writing to ask when you will receive the draft.

We've got a space at the special school just waiting for the EHCP.

Our DS' was late by about 8 weeks. Should have been finished in May but took until July. The LA agreed to back date payments to the 20 week legal deadline.

Call to speak to the case worker's supervisor about what they can do to make sure your DD can start school in September. They are late so could be in trouble if this interrupts your DD's transfer to special school. I'm sure SOS SEN would suggest muttering about judicial review but I've no experience of how that works

Think they are all different, dds was actually completed early by about 3 weeks

I have an update. The officer dealing with my dd's case called this morning to say that she's going to try and get everything to the panel for a decision on Monday.
She was quite apologetic and said she'd do everything she possibly can.
I explained about the school situation again and said that it would've so disruptive for her and this would be a real shame, because both her mainstream and special school have worked so close together to help her.
She wouldn't be starting back on the first day in September anyway, as the special school likes to get them children who are already there back and settled first, before the new ones start. So we have a bit of time at least!
Fingers crossed, we'll have a decision next week!!

26 weeks is the published timescale

That was for statements. For EHCP it's 20 weeks.