Require Local Authorities to Quantify EHCP Hours

Background

Mandate local authorities to quantify 1:1 support hours in Section F of EHCPs.

Additional details

Amend the Children and Families Act 2014 to explicitly forbid Local Authorities from issuing unquantified EHC Plans on the basis that professional reports do not state specific hour figures. Introduce mandatory penalties. We believe councils can exploit a loophole to avoid funding 1:1 support. In draft EHCPs, they can omit specified hours—like 1:1 TAs—claiming they cannot lawfully add a figure if specialists didn't state a number. We are concerned that this could violate High Court case law (L v Clarke and Somerset), which rules it is the Council's job to translate needs into specific hours. We feel that unquantified plans unlawfully dump the financial burden onto schools, leaving vulnerable children unsafe. We want strict regulation to stop this systemic failure.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.