'Frustration and distress' as Leeds family waited 72 weeks for school special needs plan
The council has apologised after a family faced a huge delay in getting a special needs support plan for their child’s education.
Leeds City Council said improvements were being made after the family waited more than 72 weeks for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan – way beyond the 20-week deadline.
It meant a dad had to give up his job to educate the child at home, leading to financial hardship, an investigation found.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found there were widespread delays in issuing EHC plans, used to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The dad, named as ‘Mr X’ in an investigation report, was paid £1,000 in compensation for the delay affecting the child, named as ‘Y’.
The report said: “The council took more than 72 weeks to issue an EHC plan for Mr X’s child, Y. It should have completed this in 20 weeks.
“Mr X said because of the council’s faults he has been caused frustration, distress and has had to leave his job and home school his child, which has impacted the family financially.”
The ombudsman found staffing shortages meant it was routinely taking more than seven months to finalise EHC plans.
The report said: “The council’s lack of educational psychologists has already significantly delayed many families in obtaining EHC plans.”
The council agreed to recommendations including an action plan to speed up the EHC process and improvements in communicating with families.
The report, issued in August this year, said: “We have found fault in several other cases involving this council for its significant delays in carrying out EHC needs assessments.”
The investigation report was presented to Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s executive board.
Labour’s Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said the council had since recruited more staff and was working to clear the EHC backlog.
She said: “I am very sorry that our families are not receiving the service they deserve. We are working very hard to address that.”
Alan Lamb, who leads the city’s Conservative group, said more families were owed apologies for EHC delays.
Coun Lamb, who represents Wetherby, said: “Imagine you’re this family, having real challenges with your children, and you’re having to battle with the very people who are supposed to be on your side helping you.”