Croydon Council faces persistent delays in EHCP issuance despite new assessment team

Croydon Council is experiencing persistent delays in issuing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), with only 38% of plans being finalised within the statutory 20-week timeframe. This figure represents a 2% decrease since the previous reporting period.

The issue was highlighted at a Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Emma Carter, Service Manager for the local Youth Justice Service, acknowledged the challenge, stating that while demand had caused slowdowns, a newly recruited assessment team was expected to improve performance. The committee expressed hope for improvement with this new team, though initial results have not yet been detailed. Carter could not provide specific figures on how many families each navigator supports or if staffing levels were sufficient to cover borough-wide demand.

The increased demand for EHCPs is attributed to a combination of factors. Nationally, requests are rising, and in Croydon, the impact of COVID-19 led to a reduction in the early identification of need. Consequently, schools are now working more closely with families and health professionals to identify and support undiagnosed needs or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This, coupled with better diagnosis and a greater focus on SEND, is contributing to the rise in EHCP numbers.

A borough profile infographic detailing statistics on children and young people in Croydon, including demographics, education, income deprivation, and youth justice data.
A borough profile infographic detailing statistics on children and young people in Croydon, including demographics, education, income deprivation, and youth justice data.Source: Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee papers, 20 October 2026

Councillor Rym Daoud questioned the discrepancy between the dashboard's 'amber' rating for children in care and a comment stating performance was meeting targets. It was explained that monthly figures fluctuate, but the overall Department for Education reporting target was still being met.

The meeting agenda and public reports pack for the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee on 20 October 2026 can be accessed online. Agenda frontsheet and Public reports pack.

Previous minutes from the Scrutiny Children Young People Sub-Committee meeting on 30 June 2026 are also available: Minutes Public Pack.