EHCPs in North Yorkshire: Refusal Rate and Waiting Times (2026 Data)
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In 2025, North Yorkshire refused 16.2% of the EHC needs assessment requests it decided, below the England figure of 29.0%, and issued 75.6% of plans inside the legal 20 weeks, better than the England figure of 45.5%. A plan took 19.3 weeks on average.
These are North Yorkshire’s own figures, as reported to the Department for Education and published in 2026. They cover calendar year 2025. We have set them next to the England averages so you can see where you actually stand, rather than guessing from what other parents say in a Facebook group.
North Yorkshire at a glance
| Requests for an assessment | 1,412 | received during 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Agreed to assess | 1,087 | |
| Refused to assess | 210 | |
| Refusal rate | 16.2% | England 29.0% |
| Assessments carried out | 1,445 | |
| Assessed but no plan issued | 11.6% | England 6.0% |
| Plans issued within 20 weeks | 75.6% | England 45.5% |
| Average time to issue a plan | 19.3 weeks | England 25.6 weeks |
| Plans taking over a year | 1.4% | England 10.1% |
Getting an assessment agreed in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire refused 16.2% of the requests it reached a decision on in 2025, 210 refusals out of 1,297 decided requests. That ranks it 123rd out of 138 councils with reliable figures, counting from the highest refusal rate down.
That is among the lowest refusal rates in England. It is genuinely good news if you are asking for an assessment here, though a council that agrees to assess can still be slow to finish, so read the timing section below before you relax.
Worth holding next to that: across England, of the assessments that were actually carried out, 93.6% resulted in a plan. The assessment stage overwhelmingly confirms that the child qualifies. The decision that most often stops a family is the earlier one, about whether to assess at all.
How long a plan takes in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire issued 75.6% of its plans inside the legal 20 weeks, better than the England figure of 45.5%. That ranks it 104th of 150 councils, fastest first.
The average plan took 19.3 weeks, inside the 20 week deadline.
The 20 week limit is not a target or an aspiration. It is set out in regulation 13 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. If your council misses it without one of the permitted exceptions applying, that is a breach, and you can complain and ultimately go to the Local Government Ombudsman.
If North Yorkshire has said no
A refusal is a decision you can challenge, and given that 93.6% of completed assessments nationally end in a plan, it is worth challenging. The deadline is two months from the decision letter, or one month from your mediation certificate if that date is later.
- Free EHC needs assessment request letter generator. It argues the legal test in section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014, which is a lower bar than councils tend to apply in refusal letters.
- The EHC Assessment Refusal Appeal Pack, if you have already been refused.
- Compare North Yorkshire with every other council in England.
- Everything we have on SEND and EHCPs.
Speak to your local SENDIASS first. It is free, impartial and statutory, and it does not sell you anything. IPSEA’s guidance is the best free legal explanation available.
Common questions about North Yorkshire
How many EHCP requests does North Yorkshire refuse?
In 2025 North Yorkshire refused 210 of the 1,297 requests it decided, a refusal rate of 16.2%. Across England the figure was 29.0%.
How long does an EHCP take in North Yorkshire?
In 2025, 75.6% of plans in North Yorkshire were issued within the legal 20 weeks, and the average was 19.3 weeks. The legal limit is 20 weeks from the request to the final plan.
What do I do if North Yorkshire refuses to assess my child?
You have two months from the decision letter to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, or one month from your mediation certificate if that falls later. You must contact a mediation adviser first, but you do not have to go through with mediation to get the certificate that lets you appeal. Your local SENDIASS is free and can help you with the paperwork.
How many children are home educated in North Yorkshire?
No usable home education figure was published for North Yorkshire.
Sources
- Department for Education, Education, health and care plans, England 2026, calendar year 2025.
- Department for Education, Elective home education, autumn term 2025/26.
- Children and Families Act 2014, section 36.
- The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014, regulation 13.