We know that the Education, Health and Care Plan process can feel complex and, at times, difficult to navigate. This update is intended to explain what is changing within the EHCP Team, what this means for families, and how we are working to improve communication, timeliness and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Changes within the EHCP Team
The EHCP Team has recently been remodelled to help increase capacity, strengthen training and development for staff, and support a more responsive service for children, young people and families. Our aim is to improve how we work with families, schools, settings and partner services so that issues can be identified earlier and children and young people are supported as effectively as possible.
EHCP Team Page / Case Officer Allocations
View the EHCP team page.
You can find your Case Officer on our Case Officer allocations list.
New EHCP and Annual Review templates
Following feedback shared through the “you said, we did” work on EHCP and Annual Review templates, the new templates are now live. Families may begin to see these new formats used in new or amended Education, Health and Care Plans. The intention is to make plans clearer, more consistent and easier to understand.
Training on the Annual Review process has already been shared with SENDCOs across the spring and summer terms. We are also working with parent carer forums to co-produce training for families on the Annual Review process and how parent carers can contribute. This training is expected to launch in the autumn term 2026.
Phase transfers
A phase transfer is when a child or young person with an EHCP moves to a new phase of education, for example from nursery to school, primary to secondary school, or into post-16 education. Where a child or young person is due to transfer to a new phase, their Annual Review must be completed in good time so that the EHCP can be updated and finalised by the statutory deadline.
For most children and young people moving to a new school placement, the key deadline for the final amended EHCP is 15 February. For young people moving into post-16 provision, the deadline is 31 March. Schools and settings will be contacted by the EHCP Team to support timely Annual Reviews and to help make sure family views are included.
Parent carers are encouraged to take time before the Annual Review to think about what is working well, what may need to change, and whether they have any views or preferences about the next education setting. The EHCP Team will consider the child or young person’s needs, the views of the family and young person, and information from settings and professionals before making decisions about the next placement.
We have created a guide to help you navigate the process:
- More information on phased transfers
- Phased transfers guide
Recovery Project update
We recognise that there has been a significant national increase in requests for Education, Health and Care needs assessments. This has affected the EHCP Team’s ability to consistently meet statutory timescales. We are sorry for the delays some families have experienced and understand the worry and frustration this can cause.
Since 1 May 2026, a dedicated recovery team has been working to reduce delays in EHC needs assessments and annual reviews, and to improve overall timeliness. We remain committed to making sure that plans are not only completed more quickly, but are also clear, accurate and focused on the child or young person’s needs and outcomes.
Our aim was to address backlog cases by 31 October 2026. Due to recruitment challenges and the need to secure appropriate additional resource, it may be necessary to extend the project for a short period. We will continue to prioritise cases and improve communication with families and education settings as this work progresses.
Consultations with education settings
When the local authority is considering naming a school or setting in Section I of an EHCP, it must consult with that setting. The setting is asked to respond within 15 calendar days and explain whether it can meet the child or young person’s needs. If a setting believes it cannot meet need, or that there is another lawful reason why it should not be named, it must provide clear evidence.
The local authority will consider the information available, including the views of parent carers and young people, advice from professionals and the response from the setting. Where appropriate, the local authority may name a setting in the final EHCP. If a school or setting is named in a final EHCP, it is expected to admit the child or young person unless a lawful exception applies.
If a previous request for an EHC needs assessment was not agreed
If the local authority has previously decided not to carry out an EHC needs assessment, that decision will have been made using the evidence available at the time and the legal test that applies. The earlier request is then closed. If a family, young person or school believes that an EHC needs assessment may now be needed, a new request should be submitted with new and substantial evidence showing what has changed.
This may include updated assessments, evidence of support already tried through the graduated approach, information about the impact of that support, and why the child or young person’s needs may now require an EHC needs assessment. Schools should continue to support children and young people through SEN Support while any new request is considered.
How parent carers and young people can request an EHC needs assessment
The EHCP Team has created a dedicated email address for parent carer and young person requests for an EHC needs assessment: EHCNA.request@shropshire.gov.uk. This mailbox is specifically for new EHC needs assessment requests from parent carers and young people, helping the team to identify and acknowledge these requests more quickly.
Schools should continue to submit new requests through the Shropshire SEND Portal. Parent carers may wish to speak with their child or young person’s school or setting before submitting a request, as evidence from the school and other professionals can help the local authority understand the child or young person’s needs and the support already in place.
We are committed to working with families, young people, schools and partner services to improve the EHCP process. We know there is more to do, and we will continue to listen to feedback as we develop clearer information, stronger communication and more timely support.