I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and would be grateful if you could provide the following information regarding your council’s Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) process:

1. EHCP Backlog:
a) What is the current size of your EHCP backlog (i.e., how many cases are outstanding)?
b) What is your forecast for the EHCP backlog over the next two years?
c) Do you anticipate being able to clear the backlog this year?
d) How much do you estimate it will cost to clear the backlog?
Please define backlog

2. Use of External EHCP Writers:
a) Do you use external writers or agencies to draft EHCP plans? No
b) If so, how much has been spent on external writers or agencies in the last two years (please provide a breakdown for 2023 and 2024)? N/A
c) Which EHCP writing agencies do you use? N/A
d) What is the cost per EHCP plan drafted by an external agency? N/A

3. EHCP Casework and Staffing:
a) How many EHCP caseworkers are currently in your team?
EHCP Casework Practitioners 10fte.

4. EHCP Delays and Fines:
a) How many EHCPs have been delayed in the last two years, resulting in fines? WBC has not received any fines relating to EHCPs that were issued late.
b) What is the total value of those fines? N/A

5. Root Causes of EHCP Backlog:
a) What do you identify as the primary cause(s) of the backlog over the last two years? Staff turnover moving from interim staff to permanent staffing structure.
b) Is the backlog primarily due to a lack of capacity to draft plans, difficulties in gathering the required documentation, or other factors?