NO Education Health Care Plans for special needs teenagers moving to FE have been agreed by Trafford council

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that NO Statements of Special Needs in Trafford have been transferred to the new Education Health Care Plans for teenagers, moving on to further education.

There are 144 SEN Statements which should have been transferred to the new plans by the end of March this year. However the FoI request by a member of the public has forced the council to reveal that it had missed the deadline. This means that the families and the pupils will not know what their package of support will be, including transport allowances, and therefore will find it difficult to confirm the youngsters will be accepted by the FE colleges of their choice.

In a statement to Sale Today Trafford Council says there will be no delays for anyone wanting to start colleges in September this year.

While giving no reason for the backlog the spokeswoman said: “The council is committed to ensuring it provides the best possible support for young people with EHCPs wishing to transfer to a college setting,”the statement went on to say:” The council has good relationships with colleges, and continues to work closely with them and has also encouraged potential students to apply.

“While it accepts that the deadline date was not achieved,” it said. “All young people will have EHC Plans in place before the start of the academic year. There will therefore be no delays for anyone wishing to transfer to college.”

But Labour councillor for Sale Moor, Mike Freeman, said that did not take into account the stress families will experience as the new school year approaches, if they do not have a care package agreed well beforehand. “I am furious,” he said. There is no excuse for this. Parents and careers of children and teenagers with special needs should not have to to cope with this, on top of everything else. This is a statutory obligation that the council should have fulfilled and I have asked to be told how it has come to this and what can be done.”

Meanwhile  107 children who are moving from primary to secondary schools who have SEN statements only  32 have had the process completed. However|Councillor Freeman believes there are a number of those who intend to appeal and this could add to the delay.

The Statement of Special Needs was introduced over 20 years ago to help children with disabilities and learning difficulties in main stream education. The document was drawn up by teachers, parents and the local councils to agree what level of extra support a child needed to help them cope in the classroom. The statement follows them throughout their school life being updated each year to take in account changing circumstances.

In 2014 the Government introduced a new system under the Children and Families Act whereby Education Health and Care Plans would replace the Statement, continuing support through to 25 rather than ending at 18 years under the old system.