UPDATED: AFTER apologising for missing the legal deadline to inform children with additional needs of their secondary school placements, Warrington Borough Council says the issues should be resolved today, Thursday.
They say the delay has been caused by “extraordinary circumstances” within the council’s Education Health Care team and the council says it is working hard to get all the information out by the end of this week.
A concerned parent who contacted Warrington Worldwide this week said: “I have a child with an EHCP. They follow a different admissions route into secondary schools.
“We have documentation saying that legally, we need to be informed of our secondary school placement by the 15th February. We have heard nothing, so I phoned them up today.
“They said they are running really behind but are hoping to have placements out in the next couple of weeks.
“This means that all children will find out their secondary school placement on 1st March – unless your child has additional needs and has an EHCP.
“They will not find out like all the other kids in their class, and many children with EHCPs crave stability and routine more than others. They often really hate uncertainty!
“It’s a legal deadline the council have missed by quite a distance!
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise for the delay in sending out information about secondary school places for children with an Education Health Care Plans (EHCP).
“We understand that this will have caused uncertainty for families, children and young people. This delay is due to extraordinary circumstances within the team.
“We understand how important this is and are working hard to ensure that all information is sent out by the end of this week. EHC co-ordinators are supporting parents with updates about individual cases.”
The council expects the issue to be resolved today but affected parents can email [email protected] if they have any further questions.
1 Comment
I really don’t think the LA realise the extra stress, trauma,. unecessary battles for our SEN children and families that we are put through to actually receive what they are legally entitled to. They have gone way beyond their deadline being 15th February. SEN students need structure and routine. Discrimination written all over this. Something needs to change