(UK) Somerset: Mom waits 2 yrs for SPED services; '58% increase in assessments agreed from last year'

July 4, 2025, Somerset Live: 'Failed, side-lined, and left to struggle': Somerset mum waits almost two years for special needs support 

SW England

Charlotte England, 30, has been waiting almost two years for her child to be assessed.

A mother from Somerset says she has been waiting almost two years to get special needs support for her child. Charlotte England, 30, first applied for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) support for her child on in September 2023 but is still struggling to be heard today.

Charlotte's child, 9, has dyslexia and a developmental language disorder. Charlotte initially applied for a EHCP, or, an Education, Health, and Care plan on Friday, September 1, 2023.

An EHCP aims to identify what additional help a young person might need and help meet them. For example, a blind pupil might benefit from their school stocking braille books, whereas a pupil with dyslexia might benefit from books with easy-to-read fonts.

Despite support from her child's school, the EHCP was denied. Charlotte said: "This isn’t just about one child. This is a widespread problem. The system is not working. There is no urgency, no accountability and no support for families like mine trying to do the right thing.”

She then launched an appeal against the decision and a tribunal was arranged for Thursday, February 13 this year, almost 18 months after the original application. However, just a day before the hearing the tribunal was cancelled as the local authority agreed to go ahead with the EHCP needs assessment after all.

"It felt like a delay tactic,” said Charlotte. “They waited until the very last moment to agree to something they should have done from the start.”

Now, the family is still awaiting the assessment: "We’re still waiting, with no date and no clarity. And now the summer holidays are coming, which means even more delay. It will be nearly two years from my first request before any meaningful action is taken.”

Charlotte feels local kids are being failed: "This is not a paperwork issue, these are children’s lives. They are being failed, sidelined, and left to struggle without the support they are legally entitled to.”

Following a request for comment, Somerset Council say they are facing a "huge increase" in requests for special needs assessments. They also say they're meeting the demand with a 58% increase in assessments agreed compared to last year.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: “We obviously can’t comment on individual cases; however for reassurance we are undertaking a wide range of transformation activities, including helping to address the huge increase in requests for assessment.

 “There has been a 58% increase in assessments agreed from last year alone. Recent national reports have highlighted how the number of EHCPs in similar areas to Somerset has quadrupled.

“Somerset Council is committed to improving timeliness and is in the process of securing additional capacity to help achieve this. Meanwhile we continue to lobby government to address ongoing concerns about the legislation, funding, and the guidance around support for children with SEND.

“It is our understanding the government has promised plans for reform in the autumn.”