✨Welcome to the EHCP Community Newsletter!✨

We’re thrilled to have you as part of this exclusive community of professionals dedicated to transforming the EHCP process. As champions of innovation in SEND services, you’re at the forefront of shaping how AI can support better outcomes for children, families, and caseworkers alike.

In our weekly newsletter you will find curated articles, thought pieces, success stories, and expert insights to help you understand how new types of technology and training can SEND services. So do engage, read the articles that interest you and share any perspectives you have as we all seek to make a lasting difference to lives of children and young people.

To ensure you never miss an edition, please add [email protected] to your contact list.

Agilisys Transform were thrilled to showcase EHCP Plus, an AI-powered tool designed to support SEND teams across local authorities. They noted that seeing the excitement around how AI can improve SEND outcomes and support case workers and EHC plan writers has been truly rewarding.

Key takeaways from their conversations at Bett UK:

• Strong council engagement – Many local authorities shared positive experiences with AI-powered EHCP (Education, Health, and Care Plan) tools, while others showed growing interest in adopting AI-driven solutions.

• AI’s role in improving SEND services – A major focus was on how AI can help reduce backlogs, streamline processes, and improve the quality of EHCPs, ensuring better outcomes for children.

• The AI Action Plan in focus – Councils were eager to explore responsible AI adoption to enhance public sector services and ensure they stay ahead in digital transformation.

• Expanding AI use cases for SEND – Beyond EHCPs, AI has the potential to support SEND professionals and schools by reducing administrative burdens, allowing educators to focus more on direct student support.

• Addressing the SEND crisis – Discussions echoed concerns from the Public Accounts Committee, emphasizing the urgent need for faster, more efficient processes to tackle funding and resource challenges in SEND services.

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SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING

Parents Take Council to Court Over SEND Funding

SEND CRISIS

England’s SEND Crisis: System at Breaking Point

England’s SEND system is struggling to cope with rising demand, funding shortfalls, and long delays in support, putting thousands of children at risk.

Key issues include:

• Soaring Demand – The number of children needing SEND support has increased by 24% in five years, overwhelming local authorities.

• Severe Funding Gaps – Government funding has not kept pace, leaving councils with growing deficits and forcing cuts to essential services.

• Delays & Inconsistencies – Many families wait months or years for Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), with significant regional disparities in support.

• Pressure on Schools – Mainstream schools are struggling to accommodate SEND pupils, while special schools reach capacity.

Without urgent reform, experts warn that thousands of vulnerable children will continue to miss out on the education and support they need to thrive.

Speeding Up EHCPs with AI Innovation

Ensuring children with SEND receive timely support is crucial, yet local authorities face delays due to budget constraints, staff shortages, and rising demand. These challenges make it difficult to meet EHCP deadlines, impacting children’s lives.

Our AI-powered tool, EHCP Plus, transforms the process by reducing drafting time, improving accuracy, and ensuring consistency across local authority templates. By embracing innovation, we can help streamline EHCPs, ease administrative burdens, and ensure children get the support they need—faster and more effectively.

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SPECIAL EDUCATION

Improving SEND Provision: Communicating the 'Why' for Better EHCPs

Effective communication between schools, local authorities, and parents is crucial in delivering meaningful support for SEND children. Parents often struggle to navigate the complex Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) process, leading to frustration and delays.

For EHCP case writers, ensuring transparency and clearly articulating the ‘why’ behind decisions is just as important as the ‘what’ of provision. When case workers provide well-explained, evidence-based justifications for recommendations, it builds trust with families and leads to better collaboration in shaping each child's plan.

By prioritising clear, parent-focused communication, EHCP writers can help bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that children receive the support they need efficiently and effectively.

JUDICIAL REVIEW

Bristol City Council Would Face 'Financial Disaster' without Special Needs Bailout

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