Bexley's delivery of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the statutory 20-week timeframe has seen a slight dip, though performance remains above the London and national averages. The issue was discussed at the Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
While the exact percentage of EHCPs delivered within 20 weeks was not explicitly stated in the meeting's summary, it was noted that the performance had slipped
from previous figures. The latest SEND2 data shows that Bexley achieved 68.6% within 20 weeks, which is higher than the London average of 61% and the national average of 46%. However, the status report indicates a slip from a previous figure, with the current achievement at 61%.
Councillor Jeremy Fosten raised concerns about this slip, asking for the reasons behind the delay and how the council is addressing it. Officers explained that delays can be attributed to several factors. One significant factor is inherited plans from other local authorities
when families move into Bexley. In these instances, Bexley almost has to start the work again
rather than accepting the previous plan, which leads to delays.
Waiting for professional advice, particularly from educational psychologists and speech and language therapists, also contributes to delays, reflecting a national shortage in these specialisms. To address this, Bexley council has secured £2.137 million in funding for the 'Expert at Hand' and SEND Transformation programmes. These programmes will provide educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists, whose continuity is being maintained after previously being funded by the Safety Valve programme.
Additionally, some delays are due to parental requests to slow down the process for various reasons, such as reasons to get their own advice.
The council is aware of these reasons and is working to improve the process, though specific mechanisms for ensuring the legitimacy of these requests were not detailed.
Despite the slip, the committee was reassured that Bexley's performance in delivering EHCPs within 20 weeks is still higher than the London average of 46% and the national average of 61%. In the latest SEND2 data, Bexley achieved 68.6%, with 61% of plans being delivered within the 20-week target. Of the plans that exceeded the 20-week timeframe, 11% were completed within two weeks after the deadline, and 12% within 25-28 weeks, with only 5% experiencing significant delays.
Councillor Caroline Newton acknowledged the data, noting that while Bexley's performance is better than some neighbouring boroughs, there is still room for improvement to reach the local target of 80%. She suggested that further data detailing the reasons for delays would provide more reassurance.
The committee also heard that the council is focusing on improving the quality of EHCPs by ensuring they are co-produced with parents and young people.
This is a priority, with efforts to ensure parents and young people are involved in recognizing what is written in their plans. The annual review process is also being improved to ensure EHCPs are updated and accurately reflect current needs.
More information on the committee meeting can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
