South East council

"I am the Head of Service for SEND Sufficiency and Service Improvement, with strategic responsibility for ensuring statutory SEND Service Improvement, overseeing EHCP performance, sufficiency planning, service improvement, and supporting the delivery of high-quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

We worked with Spencer Clarke Group between 25 January and 31 July, during which time they provided a dedicated project team to support our EHCP recovery programme.

Like many local authorities, we were experiencing a significant backlog of Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and EHCPs. This was impacting our ability to progress plans within statutory timescales and creating additional pressure on our existing workforce.

We explored a range of internal solutions, including reallocating resources, reviewing workflows, prioritising cases based on need, and maximising capacity within our permanent workforce. However, the scale of the backlog required additional dedicated resources (most notably in respect of EP advice) to accelerate progress without adversely affecting business-as-usual activity.

During the project, the Spencer Clarke Group team supported the finalisation of approximately 600 EHCPs, making a substantial contribution to reducing our backlog. The engagement ran from 25 January to 31 July. The service also assisted us in obtaining EP advice required as part of the EHCP process.

It is important to note that the request for Educational Psychologist (EP) support was made to Spencer Clarke Group at a late stage. However, this proved to be one of the strongest aspects of the service. Allocations to the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) were made swiftly, and many EPs returned their advice ahead of the required deadlines. Without the additional EP capacity provided through Spencer Clarke Group, we would not have been able to progress the volume of plans achieved during this period.

Spencer Clarke Group demonstrated a clear understanding of the SEND landscape and the challenges facing local authorities. Their ability to mobilise an experienced project team quickly, alongside dedicated project management support, gave us confidence that they could provide a structured and effective recovery solution. Equally, their ability to support us in terms of our EP needs was also an advantage and why we considered them above other providers/agencies.

During the project, the team supported the finalisation of approximately 600 EHCPs, making a substantial contribution to reducing our backlog and improving service performance. The plans were completed to a good standard. The project team conducted their own quality assurance, which were then overseen by the internal team through panel process.

The project team had a positive impact on both our backlog position and our ability to improve EHCP timeliness. By increasing capacity through a dedicated external team, we were able to progress a significant number of plans and reduce backlog volumes, whilst allowing our internal teams to maintain focus on business-as-usual responsibilities.

The working relationship was positive and the partnership delivered tangible value by providing specialist SEND expertise and additional capacity. We had a weekly meeting with the Project Team Manager and Project Manager which enabled challenges to be resolved. Team members had a strong understanding of SEND legislation, EHCP processes, and local authority requirements. They worked professionally and demonstrated a commitment to delivering positive outcomes.

Compared to other agencies, Spencer Clarke group provided a fully managed project solution, including a dedicated Project Manager and Team Manager who oversaw delivery and conducted enquiries on behalf of the plan writers. This approach was intentional and particularly beneficial as it prevented our internal service from becoming overwhelmed with additional administrative demands.

I would recommend Spencer Clarke Group to other local authorities. Team members had a sound understanding of the SEND sector and demonstrated an ability to mobilise experienced resources quickly."

Head of Service (SEND Service Improvement & Sufficiency)