The number of requests for additional support for children and young people with special needs has increased by 20 per cent over the past year in Hertfordshire.

Education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are used to identify the education, health and social care needs of children and young people.

And they are used to set out the additional support – often in schools or education facilities – that may be needed to meet those needs.

Data reported to the latest meeting of the special cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 3) shows that last year (2019/20) there were 1,678 requests for the plans.

That’s 20 per cent higher than the 1394 requests made in 2018/19. And, according to the report to the panel, it follows a 10 per cent increase in requests between 2017/18 ad 2018/19.

Meanwhile the data also shows that the number of plans completed over the past 12 months (2019/20) has increased too.

In 2019/20 the data shows 1165 EHCPs were completed,  which is 25 per cent higher than the 929 completed in 2018/19.

And, says the report, this  follows an 8.7 per cent increase in the number of completed plans between 2017/18 and 2018/19.

“The council continues to see year on year increase in the number of young people aged 0-25 through an EHCP,” says the report.

Requests for education, health and care plans can be made by a parent, doctor, health visitor, teacher  or a young person, aged between 16 and 25.