(Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)
A new special educational needs strategy is set to be approved in County Durham amid a backlog of more than 5,600 children waiting for assessments.
Durham County Council's cabinet will be asked to sign off the new three-year SEND Strategy covering 2026 to 2029 when it meets on October 14.
The plan has been developed with families, schools, health partners and young people.
The strategy comes at a time of growing pressure on SEND services across the county as council figures show more than 5,600 school-age children and young people are waiting for a neurodiversity assessment, with more than 700 having waited for over three years.
Council leaders say the new approach will focus on identifying needs earlier, improving support in mainstream schools and making services easier for families to access.
Councillor Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "Every child and young person deserves to feel included, valued and supported to achieve their potential.
"This strategy sets out how partners across County Durham will work together to strengthen early support, improve confidence in the SEND system and ensure that children and families receive the right help at the right time."
Under the proposals, partners will introduce an "Experts at Hand" model to provide advice to schools, expand specialist provision within mainstream schools, improve communication with families and work to speed up the completion of EHCPs.
The council also plans to increase local specialist provision through projects including developments at Fynedoune Community College and Villa Real School.
The strategy's main aims are to help children with SEND feel included and able to achieve their best, improve confidence in the SEND system among parents and carers, and ensure organisations work together to provide long-term support.
There are more than 16,600 children and young people accessing SEND services in Durham schools, while 5,776 children and young people have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Demand continues to increase.
In 2025, the council received 1,157 requests for EHCP assessments, up 71 per cent compared with 2020.
During the first five months of 2026, requests were running 26 per cent higher than the average seen in 2025.
Cabinet papers acknowledge the financial challenge this leaves the council facing.
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Demand for SEND services and associated costs currently exceed available funding by £39.7 million, while the number of children requiring support and the complexity of their needs continue to increase.
The report says successful delivery of the strategy will depend on reducing reliance on expensive specialist provision, increasing support in mainstream settings and maintaining strong oversight of reforms over the next three years.
Cabinet members are recommended to approve the strategy at their meeting in Durham on October 14.