In Bath and North East Somerset we know that waiting for an Education, Health and Care Plan can be challenging, so we have put measures in place to make sure your child is supported and you are kept informed while you wait. This is called Waiting Well.
Waiting Well is our local commitment to support children and young people, and their families, if an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment takes longer than 20 weeks to complete.
What Waiting Well means in Bath and North East Somerset
By law, the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process should be completed within 20 weeks of a needs assessment being requested.
Like many areas, Bath and North East Somerset Council has experienced high demand and other challenges, that sometimes make the process longer. Waiting Well is our pledge that if your child’s EHC needs assessment goes beyond 20 weeks, we will actively support your child and their educational setting, so they do not miss out on essential provision.
In practice, this means B&NES council will provide interim funding and support from week 20 (day 141) of the process until the final EHC Plan is issued. This means extra help can be put in place for your child while the plan is being finalised.
Interim support while you are waiting
If your child’s EHC needs assessment goes beyond 20 weeks, we will automatically arrange additional support, to help them to wait well. You can expect:
- interim funding for your child’s provision, paid directly to the school or setting
- ongoing support in school, including input from professionals in our Inclusion and SEND service
- regular communication and updates
Why an EHC Plan may take longer than 20 weeks
Demand for EHC needs assessments has increased significantly across the country. All councils, including Bath and North East Somerset, face challenges such as shortages of Educational Psychologists and other specialist professionals.
We are continuing to recruit and train staff, including Educational Psychologists and SEND case officers, and we are improving our processes to complete assessments more quickly. A robust improvement plan is in place.
However, some plans may still take longer than 20 weeks. If this happens, we are committed to being transparent, proactive and supportive. This is the essence of Waiting Well.
How to contact us
If you have any questions or concerns while you are waiting for an EHC needs assessment, please contact us using one of the options below.
By phone
You can contact the Statutory SEND Team on 01225 394 306 during office hours. If you are not sure who your case officer is, the duty desk can help or take a message.
Your SEND practitioner
Each EHC needs assessment is assigned a SEND practitioner (case officer). You can contact them directly for updates, to share new information or to discuss interim support.
SENDIAS Bathnes
SENDIAS Bath and North East Somerset is an independent service for parents, carers and young people. They can:
• help you communicate with the council if needed
• advise you on your rights and options
This can be particularly helpful if you are unclear or not satisfied with any part of the process.
You can contact SENDIAS on 01225 394 382 or via their website.
In person
At times, council officers attend drop-in sessions or coffee mornings, such as events organised by BANES Parent Carer Forum. These give you an opportunity to ask questions and hear about service improvements, in an informal setting.
For details of upcoming events, follow communications from BANES Parent Carer Forum.
Last updated: 20 April 2026