Independent Education, Health and Care Plan information hub helping families, carers, children, young people, researchers and the public find official SEND guidance, statistics, tribunal information, inspections, reports, reform information and accountability routes.
Official EHCP Data — England 2026
Department for Education accredited official statistics published 25 June 2026.
EHCP Refusals 2025 — Public Interest Data
The comparison below was produced by Brendan Anderson, SEND & EHCP Consultant.
Brendan Anderson
SEND & EHCP Consultant
EHCP Refusals 2025
Local authorities most likely to refuse an EHCP
- Walsall 25.4%
- Kent 21.9%
- Milton Keynes 20.6%
- Haringey 20.1%
- Derby 17.3%
- Dudley 17.0%
- South Tyneside 15.2%
- Oldham 14.3%
- Wakefield 14.1%
- Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole 13.9%
National average stated in this analysis:
6%BCP = Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
Source: Brendan Anderson, SEND & EHCP Consultant. This ranking is third-party analysis rather than an official Department for Education headline table. Families and researchers should verify the underlying local-authority figures against the official DfE Education, Health and Care Plans dataset before relying on the percentages.
SEND Reform — Current Position September 2026
The Government published SEND reform: putting children and young people first in February 2026.
The main consultation closed on 18 May 2026.
The proposals include changes to how future SEND support, specialist provision and EHCPs may operate.
These proposed reforms have not removed today's existing SEND and EHCP rights.
Government transition information states that until new legislation comes into force, the current duties, rights and funding routes remain in place.
The Government also states that there will be no changes to support received through existing EHCPs before at least September 2030.
Current SEND Reform Information Read the Reform ProposalsView the official EOTAS consultation
1. SEND Law & Guidance
- SEND Code of Practice
- Children and Families Act duties
- SEND Regulations
- Local authority responsibilities
- EHC assessment and plan duties
2. EHCP Statistics
- EHCP numbers
- Assessment requests
- Assessments
- New plans
- Timeliness
- Annual reviews
- Local authority comparisons
3. Schools & Performance
- Find schools
- Check establishment information
- Compare school performance
- Check Ofsted reports
- Look at published SEND information
4. Area SEND Inspections
- Local area SEND inspections
- Joint Ofsted and CQC reports
- Identified systemic weaknesses
- Improvement plans
- Local accountability
5. SEND Tribunal
- Appeal refusals to assess
- Appeal refusals to issue a plan
- Appeal EHCP contents
- Appeal placement decisions
- Disability discrimination claims
6. Parliament & Reports
- House of Commons SEND briefings
- Education Committee reports
- SEND reform evidence
- Parliamentary scrutiny
- Public accountability
7. SEND Reform
- 2026 SEND reform proposals
- National Inclusion Standards
- Specialist Provision Packages
- Future EHCP changes
- Transition protections
- EOTAS reform
8. NHS & Health Evidence
- NHS services
- NICE guidance
- Health needs within EHCPs
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Clinical evidence
9. Audit & Accountability
- National Audit Office reports
- Ombudsman complaints
- Local authority failures
- Maladministration findings
- Public spending scrutiny
10. Open Data & Publications
- Government publications
- Official statistics
- Open datasets
- Research
- Transparency information
11. EHCP Complaints
- Local authority complaints
- EHCP delay complaints
- Failure to secure provision
- Annual review delays
- Maladministration complaints
12. Independent SEND Help
- Independent SEND law information
- Local impartial advice
- Family support
- Tribunal information
What Families Can Use This Hub For
- Checking official SEND and EHCP law and guidance.
- Finding EHCP statistics for their local authority.
- Comparing local-authority performance and timeliness.
- Checking school, Ofsted and Area SEND inspection information.
- Understanding appeal routes through the SEND Tribunal.
- Checking current SEND reform proposals and transition protections.
- Finding evidence from Parliament, the National Audit Office, Ombudsman and government sources.
- Preparing complaints, Subject Access Requests, Freedom of Information requests, annual reviews and appeal evidence.
- Checking whether published statistics match statements made by public bodies.
- Keeping a dated evidence trail when EHCP processes are delayed or statutory provision is not delivered.
About this Hub
This independent portal is designed to help parents, carers, children, young people, researchers and the public find EHCP and SEND information more easily.
Built by Right First Time UK
We believe in transparency, accountability and making public information easier to access and understand.
Disclaimer
Right First Time UK is independent.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by GOV.UK, the Department for Education, Ofsted, CQC, NHS England, local authorities, SEND Tribunal, HMCTS or any public body.
This page provides general information, public-interest transparency resources and signposting and should not be treated as legal advice.