EHCP Support in Bristol: Deadlines, Performance & Local Help

Bristol issued 17.4% of new EHCPs within the statutory 20-week deadline in 2024. That is below the national average of 46.4% — by 29.0 percentage points.

Based on 684 new EHC plans issued by Bristol in 2024.

For 2024, approximately 17 in every 100 new EHC plans covered by this measure were issued within 20 weeks. The measure excludes cases with permitted exceptions. It describes plans issued in that reporting year, not every assessment request, and does not predict the outcome or timing of a current application.

These are historical 2024 figures. Newer statistics are available in the DfE 2026 release, which reports activity during 2025. The council figures above have not yet been updated to that release.

Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans, England (annual statistics). Data year: 2024.

SEND team

Contact record dated 11 June 2026 — confirm current details with the council · source

SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service) is a free, statutory and impartial service for parents, carers and young people.

Find your local SENDIASS service via Bristol's Local Offer.

A parent, a young person aged 16–25, or a school or college can request an Education, Health and Care needs assessment from Bristol. Other people, such as a doctor, can bring a child or young person to the council’s attention. Explain the needs, support already tried, and why an assessment may be necessary.

The usual time limit for the assessment decision is 6 weeks. If the council decides to issue a plan, the usual overall limit is 20 weeks from receiving the assessment request. Agreeing to assess does not automatically mean a plan will be issued. Specific legal exceptions can affect these limits. See the government’s EHC plan guidance and our detailed guide.

Read our step-by-step guide →

If you are waiting beyond an expected deadline, ask Bristol in writing for an update and the reason for the delay. Keep copies of your request and the council’s replies. Your local SENDIASS can help you understand the next steps. A complaint and an appeal are different routes; follow the instructions and time limits in any decision letter.

What to do if your council misses the 20-week deadline →

• Deadline tracker — personalised calculations and reminders are paused. Read the guidance and confirm dates with your council or adviser.
• Letter templates — request an assessment, chase a missed deadline, challenge a refusal.
• How to challenge an EHCP refusal
• What Section F of an EHCP must legally contain