Issue

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

12 stories · discussed at 11 council meetings · 13 councils

Councils are grappling with significant financial pressures and surging demand for Education, Health and Care Plans.

Councils are currently grappling with significant financial pressures in their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services, which include Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) that outline support for children. Wandsworth Council's children's services budget, totalling over £100 million, is overspending, while Richmond's SEND provision faces a projected £10.6 million deficit this year. Lewisham Council also projects a £6.5 million General Fund overspend for 2026/27, partly due to increased school transport expenses.

In response to surging demand for EHCPs and specialist provision, councils are expanding capacity. Brent Council approved plans in September 2026 to expand Phoenix Arch Special School by 50 places from September 2027. Ealing Council also approved new Specialist Resourced Provisions at two schools in July 2026, adding 66 places from September 2027. Havering Council is addressing a backlog in EHCPs due to a psychologist shortage, with an AI solution planned.

The timeliness of EHCP issuance is also under scrutiny, with a local councillor questioning Havering Council's performance in September 2026. Looking ahead, Redbridge Schools Forum is scheduled to discuss EHCPs on 1 October 2026. In July 2026, Islington Council approved a joint procurement strategy with Camden Council for disabled children's short breaks, valued at £13.6 million for Islington, to enhance services and access.

Key facts

  1. Wandsworth Council's children's services budget totals over £100 million and is currently overspending. Source
  2. Richmond's SEND provision is projected to face a £10.6 million deficit this year. Source
  3. Lewisham Council projects a £6.5 million overspend on its General Fund for 2026/27, partly due to school transport costs. Source
  4. Brent Council approved expanding Phoenix Arch Special School by 50 places from September 2027. Source
  5. Ealing Council approved new Specialist Resourced Provisions at two schools, adding 66 places from September 2027. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 2

  1. Richmond Schools Face £5.3m Deficit in Dedicated Schools Grant Due to High Needs Funding Shortfall Richmond's schools are facing a projected deficit of £5.3 million in their Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year, leading to a cumulative deficit of £5.5... Richmond upon Thames 1 February 2026
  2. Lewisham Schools Forum Transfers Funds to Address High Needs Block Overspend Lewisham's Schools Forum has agreed to transfer £854,000 from the Early Years (EY) block to the High Needs Block (HNB) to address a significant overspend. The decision was made... Lewisham 28 October 2025
  3. Newham Council Buys Bikes to Cut Home-to-School Transport Costs Newham Council is exploring the use of bicycles for families to reduce rising home-to-school transport costs. This initiative was presented as one measure to reduce overspending... Newham 25 July 2025
  4. Havering Faces EHCP Backlog Due to Psychologist Shortage; Council Plans AI Solution Havering is grappling with a significant backlog in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) due to a shortage of educational psychologists (EPs), the People Overview & Scrutiny... Havering 20 July 2025