The number of Hertfordshire children who have been waiting in excess of 20 weeks for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) has plummeted over the last 12 months – from hundreds to just four.

EHCPs are legally binding documents that outline a child's special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and the provision that should be made available to support them.

Where they are requested, local authorities have to meet statutory 20-week time scales, in which to assess need, and where appropriate, issue an EHCP.

Last January (2025), 606 children in Hertfordshire had been waiting for an EHCP for more than 20 weeks.

The latest data shows that this week (Feb 23), there are just four children who have been waiting for 20 weeks or more – two more than the week before.

The county council's director of inclusion and skills, Hero Slinn, stresses that the four longer waits recorded reflect specific circumstances, suggesting that it can be the right thing "to make sure everything is in place".

"Last January we had 606 children who were waiting outside of the statutory timescale of 20 weeks," said Ms Slinn.

"Our current position is that last week there were two out of timescale – now there are four.

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"And for those children, there are really good reasons why that is the case. Sometimes that can be the right thing, to make sure that everything is in place."

Back in autumn 2023, the timeliness and quality of EHCPs were highlighted by an inspection of SEND services in Hertfordshire by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.

At that point, data (from July 2023) showed that just 38% of EHCPs were being issued within the 20-week time frame, with just 5% of those rated as being 'good' or 'outstanding'.

Since then, the county has invested millions more in the EHCP process and the provision of support – including the creation of additional specialist school places.

The latest available data shows that in the last three months of 2025, 92% of EHCPs were completed within 20 weeks, with 72% rated as good or better.

Ms Slinn says the timeliness and the quality of EHCPs are "really important", because they outline the detailed provision a child requires – and are associated with the additional resources required for that provision.

She says they are "thrilled" with the progress that has been made, citing investment and the way agencies have worked together.

According to the latest available data, in 2025 there were 2,953 EHCPs completed overall – compared to 2,102 in 2024.

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It shows that in the last three months of the year, a total of 568 EHCPs were finalised. Of those, 92% were completed within the 20-week time frame, and 72% were rated to be good or better.

Latest data shows that in December 2025, there were 15,154 children and young people in Hertfordshire who had an EHCP. That's an increase of 18% compared to 12 months earlier, in December 2024.