EHCP Support in Dorset: Deadlines, Performance & Local Help

Not published: Dorset Council did not submit a timeliness figure to the DfE SEN2 collection for 2024.

For context, the national 20-week timeliness rate for new EHCPs in 2024 was 46.4%.

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.

Learning and Belonging (SEND) locality teams. The council page provides further contact options.

Contact record dated 30 September 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 Dorset'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 Dorset. 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 Dorset 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