Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision data

For the purposes of this request: – Academic years run 1 September to 31 August – “2020/21” means 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021, please provide:

1. For each of the last 5 academic years (2020/21
a. EHC needs assessment requests received
b. EHC plans issued following assessment
c. EHC plans issued within the 20-week statutory timescale
d. EHC needs assessment requests refused If held

In response, this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means). The requested information is already publicly available from the following website links:

Number of new requests
‘Number of requests for an EHC needs assessment, and the request outcomes’ from ‘Education, health and care plans’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

Number of plans issued each year
‘Number of new EHC plans during the calendar year’ from ‘Education, health and care plans’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

Number of plans issued within 20 weeks
‘Timeliness – EHC plans issued within the statutory 20 week timeframe’ from ‘Education, health and care plans’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

Number not agreed to assess
‘Number of requests for an EHC needs assessment, and the request outcomes’ from ‘Education, health and care plans’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

2. For each of the last 5 academic years, please provide:
a. Number of SENDIST tribunal appeals registered
b. Number proceeding to a full hearing
c. Number resolved before hearing
d. Number decided in favour of the parent/carer

3. As of the most recent available date, please provide:
a. Number of full-time equivalent Educational Psychologists
b. Number of vacant Educational Psychologist posts

In response to Question 3a and 3b, the Educational Psychologists (EP) service has a full establishment of 32.5 FTE, we have one vacant post currently. We are also holding 4 posts that have been recruited to but EPs have not started as they are still in training. Three roles will be filled by September 2026 and one by September 2027.

4. If recorded, what is the current average waiting time measured.

Devon County Council does not hold this information.  This is because this is not recorded.  By way of assistance, we can advise that the range from when the assessment is agreed is between 6 weeks (statutory timeframes) and 21 weeks.

5. As of the most recent available date, how many how many have been waiting more than 6 months?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

6. As of the most recent available date:
a. Number of overdue EHCP annual reviews

As of 1/6/2026 there were 1467 overdue reviews

b. Longest overdue annual review (in months)

The longest overdue is 972 days overdue (31.9 in months)

7. For each of the last 5 academic years, how many where this placement was due to a lack of suitable school

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

Publicly available information is available from the following website:
‘Number of education, health (EHC) plans as at January each year’ from ‘Education, health and care plans’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

8. For each of the last 5 academic years, what was

Devon County Council does not hold information by academic year.

The following shows information by financial year:

9. For each of the last 5 academic years, please provide:
a. High Needs Block DSG allocation

This information is exempt from disclosure under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means). The requested information is already publicly available on this Department for Education webpage relating to Devon.

b. Actual High Needs Block spend

Actual High Needs Block spend this can be found in our outturn reports: Budgets and expenditure | Devon County Council 

c. Resulting surplus or deficit

Resulting surplus or deficit this can be found in our outturn reports: Budgets and expenditure | Devon County Council

10. For each of the last 5 academic years, how many fixed-term exclusions were issued to pupils with an EHCP?

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

Publicly available data is available from the following website:
‘Suspensions and permanent exclusions – by pupil characteristic’ from ‘Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England’, Permanent data table – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK

11. For each of the last 5 academic years, please provide:
a. Number of SEND-related complaints received

b. Number escalated to the Local Government and

c. Number upheld or partially upheld by the Ombudsman