Recommendation 14

On 1 May 2020, the Department temporarily changed aspects of the law on EHC needs assessments and plans, to give local authorities, health commissioning bodies, education providers and other bodies more flexibility in the context of the pandemic. These changes temporarily removed the requirement to complete assessments and plans within a fixed timeframe, and responsible bodies were required only to use their ‘reasonable endeavours’ to secure the provision within an EHC plan.24 In its written evidence, SENSE (a national charity for those living with complex disabilities) told us that, while it understood the need 15 Q 56 16 Q 57 17 C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 18 COE0026 NSPCC submission, pages 1–2 19 Q 54 20 Q 52 21 COE0026 NSPCC submission, page 4 22 Q 55 23 Q 85 24 C&AG’s Report, para 1.14 COVID-19: Support for children’s education 11 to relieve pressure on schools, local authorities and health commissioners, the changes had left families without the care and support they relied on to look after their disabled children safely. It also told us that many children’s support had not been fully reinstated, despite the temporary legal changes no longer being in place.25