Staffordshire County Council Clears Backlog for SEND Educational Psychology Assessments

In a significant advancement for support services, Staffordshire County Council has successfully eliminated the backlog of educational psychology assessments required for children and young people’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), reducing waiting times from six months to none.

The council’s Educational Psychology Service has dramatically decreased the number of children awaiting assessments, from over 400 in March of last year to fewer than nine currently. New referrals are now addressed immediately, marking a major improvement in aiding children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Waiting times across all stages of the process have been slashed, evolving from a six-month delay for psychologist allocation to just one week earlier this year, and now to instant assignment. With the backlog cleared, the focus shifts to accelerating report quality assurance to maintain timely decisions and deliver high-quality assessments for families.

Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, praised the efforts: “This achievement is a step in the right direction and reflects the hard work and dedication of our Educational Psychology Service. Clearing the backlog means children and families are getting the support they need more quickly, and we will continue to improve services so no child waits longer than necessary for an assessment.”

Amid these local successes, the council supports the f40 group’s push for increased SEND funding and systemic reforms, as local authorities across the UK face a projected £6 billion deficit in SEND funding by April 2026. While investing in early interventions and additional specialist places, the council emphasises that the national framework is outdated and unsustainable.

The council and f40 are calling on the government to fully fund future reforms and revise the education funding model to ensure every child receives adequate support. For further details on f40 and funding disparities, visit https://www.f40.org.uk/.

This milestone highlights ongoing commitments to enhancing SEND services in Staffordshire, promising better outcomes for vulnerable children and their families.