Staffordshire County Council says it has cleared its backlog of Educational Psychology assessments for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans.
The council says waiting times, which previously stretched to around six months, have now been reduced to zero, with new referrals being picked up straight away.
According to the council, more than 400 children were waiting for an Educational Psychology assessment in March last year. That figure has now fallen to fewer than nine cases, with those assessments already in progress.
Educational Psychology assessments form a key part of the process for Education, Health and Care Plans, often referred to as EHCPs, which set out the support required for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The council says it has also reduced waiting times at every stage of the process. Earlier this year, families were waiting around a week for an Educational Psychologist to be allocated. That delay has now been removed entirely.
With the unallocated assessments cleared, the focus is now shifting to report quality assurance. The council says this work is intended to ensure decisions are made promptly and that assessment reports remain consistent and high quality for families across Staffordshire.
Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education at Staffordshire County Council, said the changes reflected sustained work by the service.
“This achievement is a step in the right direction and reflects the hard work and dedication of our Educational Psychology Service,” she said.
“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.”
Alongside the local changes, the council has reiterated its concerns about the wider national picture for SEND funding. It continues to support the f40 group, which represents local authorities with historically lower levels of education funding.
The council says councils across the country are facing a combined SEND funding shortfall estimated at £6 billion by April 2026. While Staffordshire is investing in early intervention and new specialist places, it argues that the current national system is outdated and financially unsustainable.
Staffordshire County Council and the f40 group are calling on Government to ensure future SEND reforms are fully funded and that the education funding model is reworked to reduce disparities between local authorities.
