I am requesting disclosure of the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1. The council’s forecast (or actual, if available – please specify) outturn on its High Needs Block budget in 2020/21, prior to transfers to and from other budgets
2. The council’s forecast (or actual, if available – please specify) outturn on its Dedicated Schools Grant budget in 2020/21, prior to transfers to and from other budgets
3. Please list any council proposals or policies to reduce High Needs Block costs and/or overspends. Please enclose any HNB or DSG deficit reduction plan

The answers to questions 1 to 3 are included in the report. Questions 1 and 2 are under item 43 2020/21 Revenue Monitoring Report, while question 3 please see item 46 2021/22 High Needs Block Budget.

https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g3766/Public%20reports%20pack%2017th-Mar-2021%2010.00%20Schools%20Forum.pdf?T=10

https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=162&MId=3906&Ver=4

4. How many new ECHPs has the council issued in 2020/21, excluding ‘exception cases’ where the 20-week deadline does not apply?
Total without exception: 164.

5. Of the new EHCPs listed in response to question 4, how many were issued within the 20-week deadline?
124.

6. How many new ECHPs has the council issued in 2020/21, including (but not limited to) ‘exception cases’?
169.

7. Of the new EHCPs listed in response to question 6, how many were issued within 20 weeks?
127.

8. How many applications for new EHCPs does the council currently have pending – i.e. an EHCP has not yet been issued and the application has not been rejected?
105 open requests have not had a Draft EHC Plan issued. There are 121 cases open in total including 16 where Draft EHC Plans have been issued but not Final EHC Plans yet.

9. Of the applications referred to in response to question 8, how many are currently over the 20-week deadline (including exception cases where 20 weeks is not a deadline)?
0 of the 105.
2 of the 121.

10. Of the applications referred to in response to question 8, how many are not currently viewed as ‘exception cases’?
None have been listed as exceptions.

11. Of the applications referred to in response to question 9 (i.e. excluding ‘exception cases’), how many are currently over the 20-week deadline?
None are recorded as exceptions so the answer to how many are over 20 weeks is the same as question 9 which is 2.