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EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CARE CONNECTIONS

EHC plans and SEND support in Sheffield

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Published local authority evidence

January 2026 Local authority SEN2 return

Active EHC plans at January

7,019 plans

7,019 plans was reported for “Active EHC plans at January”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Active EHC plans at January

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

January 2023January 2026 · vertical scale 07,019. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
January 20234,670 plans
January 20245,365 plans
January 20255,952 plans
January 20267,019 plans

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Requests for an EHC needs assessment

1,454 requests

1,454 requests was reported for “Requests for an EHC needs assessment”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Requests for an EHC needs assessment

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 01,454. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year1,213 requests
2024 calendar year1,211 requests
2025 calendar year1,454 requests

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Plans issued within 20 weeks, including exceptions

27.8%

27.8% was reported for “Plans issued within 20 weeks, including exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Plans issued within 20 weeks, including exceptions

The calculation uses a denominator of 1,124; see the source for the eligible group.

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 0100%. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year52.8%
2024 calendar year49%
2025 calendar year27.8%

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Plans issued within 20 weeks, excluding exceptions

27.8%

27.8% was reported for “Plans issued within 20 weeks, excluding exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Plans issued within 20 weeks, excluding exceptions

The calculation uses a denominator of 1,124; see the source for the eligible group.

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 0100%. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year53.1%
2024 calendar year49%
2025 calendar year27.8%
Explore 9 additional measures

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

New EHC plans started in the year

1,198 plans

1,198 plans was reported for “New EHC plans started in the year”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: New EHC plans started in the year

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 01,198. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year1,003 plans
2024 calendar year757 plans
2025 calendar year1,198 plans

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Requests with a decision to assess

1,219 requests

1,219 requests was reported for “Requests with a decision to assess”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Requests with a decision to assess

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 01,219. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year796 requests
2024 calendar year885 requests
2025 calendar year1,219 requests

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Requests with a decision not to assess

139 requests

139 requests was reported for “Requests with a decision not to assess”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Requests with a decision not to assess

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 0386. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year386 requests
2024 calendar year253 requests
2025 calendar year139 requests

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Requests with no decision yet recorded

84 requests

84 requests was reported for “Requests with no decision yet recorded”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Requests with no decision yet recorded

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 084. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year24 requests
2024 calendar year64 requests
2025 calendar year84 requests

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Requests withdrawn

12 requests

12 requests was reported for “Requests withdrawn”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Requests withdrawn

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 012. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year7 requests
2024 calendar year9 requests
2025 calendar year12 requests

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, including exceptions

1,124 plans

1,124 plans was reported for “Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, including exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, including exceptions

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 01,124. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year988 plans
2024 calendar year670 plans
2025 calendar year1,124 plans

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, excluding exceptions

1,124 plans

1,124 plans was reported for “Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, excluding exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Plans issued in the timeliness cohort, excluding exceptions

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 01,124. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year983 plans
2024 calendar year670 plans
2025 calendar year1,124 plans

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Average observed time to issue a plan, including exceptions

23.9 weeks

23.9 weeks was reported for “Average observed time to issue a plan, including exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Average observed time to issue a plan, including exceptions

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 023.9. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year20 weeks
2024 calendar year21 weeks
2025 calendar year23.9 weeks

2025 calendar year Local authority SEN2 return

Average observed time to issue a plan, excluding exceptions

23.9 weeks

23.9 weeks was reported for “Average observed time to issue a plan, excluding exceptions”. DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate.

Definition and source

Published measure: Average observed time to issue a plan, excluding exceptions

DfE SEN2 all-plan/request aggregate. The 2026 release describes January 2026 plans or calendar-year 2025 activity. Published local authority figures are not NHS diagnostic waits or forecasts for an individual. The data collection changed in 2023; earlier observations are excluded. Including and excluding permitted exceptions are separate cohorts. Timeliness cohorts can differ from new-plan counts because dates and coverage differ. DfE uses the earlier local authority geography code in this release. We retain that source identifier; current council contact links do not transfer these observations onto a different boundary.

Education, health and care plans · Coverage and method

See how this has changed

2023 calendar year2025 calendar year · vertical scale 023.9. Gaps remain gaps.

Read the values by period
PeriodPublished value
2023 calendar year19.9 weeks
2024 calendar year21 weeks
2025 calendar year23.9 weeks

Source and interpretation

Department for Education: Education, health and care plans, reporting year 2026. Published 25 June and updated 30 June 2026. Reused under the Open Government Licence.

The collection changed in 2023, so earlier observations are excluded from these trends. Values marked unavailable, not applicable or suppressed remain separate from zero. Read the source footnotes for council-specific quality issues.

Official SEND support guidance · Find local council support