Special educational needs and disabilities provision in schools - Find a freedom of information request

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in schools (as of 8 May 2024).

1. How many children with Education Health and Care Plan’s (EHCP) are currently waiting for a school place in your council area?

2. How many children are awaiting assessment for an EHCP in your council area?

3. How many SEN appeals were undertaken in the years of 2021, 2022 and 2023?

4. How many of these appeals ended up at tribunal, broken down by the years 2021, 2022, 2023?

5. How many SEN appeals were upheld/partially upheld in favour of the council, broken down by the years 2021, 2022, 2023?

6. How much was spent by the council on the SEN appeals process in the years of 2021, 2022, and 2023? This includes appeals that went to tribunal, and those which were settled before tribunal was necessary. It should also include a breakdown of legal fees where possible.

7. How many SEN appeals are currently on your authority's caseload? This includes appeals which are yet to go to tribunal, appeals which are at tribunal stage, and any other appeals which are outstanding.

SEND provision in schools (as of 8 May 2024).
 
1. 129 (as of 22-05-2024 however this number fluctuates all the time).

Whilst waiting CYP continue to be educated their current school with appropriate support or receive interim home tuition.
 
2. Nil – if an assessment is agreed the assessment process is progressed as per the SEND Code with immediate effect.

3. 2021 – 70 appeals lodged, 2022 – 78 appeals lodged, 2023 – 125 appeals lodged
 
4. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) do not hold data in this format and would have to go through each file it was instructed on to see the outcome.  LCC was also not always instructed so may not have final details.

5. LCC do not hold data in this format and would have to go through each file to see the outcome.

6. Legal fees – please note these are for the financial rather than calendar years – 2020/2021 - £71,343.54, 2021/2022 - £91,045.59, 2022/2023 - £64,542.70
 
7. The last appeal received on 15th May was numbered 62.