Waltham Forest SEND dataIndependent

How SEND services in Waltham Forest are performing. Every figure links to its public source.

Annual reviews

Every EHC plan must be reviewed at least once every 12 months (legislation.gov.uk, Children and Families Act 2014, section 44 (Reviews and re-assessments) (September 2014), section 44(1)). After the review meeting, the council has 4 weeks to decide whether to keep, amend or end the plan (legislation.gov.uk, The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 (September 2014), regulation 20). The DfE's latest annual review figures for each council cover the 2025 calendar year.

Reviews completed in 2025

3,339 Waltham Forest plans were due a review in 2025. 1,638 (49.1%) were completed in the year. 1,575 (47.2%) were recorded as not completed. Across England, 56.8% were completed.

Annual reviews due in 2025 that were completed in 2025

EHC plans due a review in 2025, and the share where the review was completed in the year.

London boroughs, 2025

  1. 1Sutton: 87.5%
  2. 2Merton: 82.2%
  3. 3Richmond upon Thames: 82.0%
  4. 4Kingston upon Thames: 80.0%
  5. 5Tower Hamlets: 77.5%
  6. 6Enfield: 77.3%
  7. 7Barnet: 60.3%
  8. 8Lambeth: 59.2%
  9. 9Bexley: 59.1%
  10. 10Southwark: 56.3%
  11. 11Islington: 55.6%
  12. 12Hammersmith and Fulham: 55.3%
  13. 13Wandsworth: 52.6%
  14. 14Kensington and Chelsea: 52.1%
  15. 15Haringey: 51.7%
  16. 16Waltham Forest49.1%
  17. 17Hackney: 46.6%
  18. 18Westminster: 44.9%
  19. 19Hillingdon: 42.5%
  20. 20Brent: 42.4%
  21. 21Ealing: 38.6%
  22. 22Harrow: 37.2%
  23. 23Havering: 32.8%
  24. 24Redbridge: 32.1%
  25. 25Croydon: 31.3%
  26. 26Newham: 29.8%
  27. 27Barking and Dagenham: 29.8%
  28. 28Bromley: 29.7%
  29. 29Hounslow: 29.6%
  30. 30Camden: 22.6%
  31. 31Greenwich: 17.6%
  32. 32Lewisham: 0.0%
Show the numbers
Area2025
Waltham Forest49.1%
London47.4%
England56.8%

Source: DfE, Education, health and care plans: Number of annual reviews of EHC plans (downloaded 2026-10-25)

Decisions within 4 weeks

Of the 1,638 reviews completed, the council issued its decision within the legal 4 weeks in 383 cases (23.4%). In England the figure was 47.6%.

Annual review decisions made within 4 weeks

Of the annual reviews completed, the share where the council issued its decision within the legal 4 weeks of the review meeting.

London boroughs, 2025

  1. 1Sutton: 89.6%
  2. 2Westminster: 73.8%
  3. 3Enfield: 71.4%
  4. 4Bexley: 58.5%
  5. 5Richmond upon Thames: 56.8%
  6. 6Kingston upon Thames: 56.7%
  7. 7Wandsworth: 56.5%
  8. 8Brent: 55.7%
  9. 9Greenwich: 45.4%
  10. 10Hounslow: 45.3%
  11. 11Newham: 43.0%
  12. 12Southwark: 42.8%
  13. 13Hammersmith and Fulham: 41.7%
  14. 14Hillingdon: 41.5%
  15. 15Merton: 38.4%
  16. 16Tower Hamlets: 38.3%
  17. 17Harrow: 36.7%
  18. 18Islington: 36.4%
  19. 19Barnet: 36.1%
  20. 20Kensington and Chelsea: 35.6%
  21. 21Lambeth: 29.0%
  22. 22Havering: 27.3%
  23. 23Camden: 26.5%
  24. 24Haringey: 25.0%
  25. 25Redbridge: 24.0%
  26. 26Waltham Forest23.4%
  27. 27Hackney: 21.0%
  28. 28Croydon: 20.0%
  29. 29Bromley: 16.2%
  30. 30Barking and Dagenham: 12.6%
  31. 31Ealing: 10.3%
Show the numbers
Area2025
Waltham Forest23.4%
London42.3%
England47.6%

Source: DfE, Education, health and care plans: Number of annual reviews of EHC plans (downloaded 2026-10-25)

What the council reports to its own boards

PeriodValueSource
Q4 2025 10% (n=23)
Labelled 'Q4 2025' in a plan published in April 2025.		 London Borough of Waltham Forest and NHS North East London, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan (July 2025), p. 15
March 2025 20% (n=12) London Borough of Waltham Forest and NHS North East London, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan (July 2025), p. 15
June 2025 24.2% London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 15
August 2025 40.8% (n=1,354)
The same report also gives '58%, N=1941' as a figure 'to date' without saying what period that covers.		 London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 15

Published target: none. No target is set. The council says it is clearing the backlog with temporary staff.

Legal requirement: Every EHC plan must be reviewed at least once every 12 months, and the council must give its decision within 4 weeks of the review meeting. (legislation.gov.uk, Children and Families Act 2014, section 44 (Reviews and re-assessments) (September 2014), Section 44(1); SEND Regulations 2014 reg. 20)

Year 9 reviews (preparing for adulthood)

Ofsted asked the partnership to make sure annual reviews from Year 9 "represent children's and young people's aspirations and ambitions" (Ofsted and Care Quality Commission, Area SEND inspection of Waltham Forest Local Area Partnership (April 2025), p. 6).

PeriodValueSource
March 2025 14% (n=33)
193 Year 9 reviews were late.		 London Borough of Waltham Forest and NHS North East London, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan (July 2025), p. 20
August 2025 12% (n=5)
156 Year 9 reviews overdue, down from 202 in July 2025.		 London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 17

Published target: none. No target is set.

Legal requirement: From Year 9, every annual review must cover preparation for adulthood.

PeriodValueSource
March 2025 193 London Borough of Waltham Forest and NHS North East London, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan (July 2025), p. 20
July 2025 202 London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 17
August 2025 156 London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 17

Published target: none.

Backlogs

MeasureWhenFigureSource
Active EHC plans, council estimate after its annual review backlog is cleared (3,663 reported to DfE in January 2025)September 20253,354London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Sufficiency Plan 2025-30 (in the Schools Forum pack, 10 December 2025) (December 2025), p. 20
Increase in EHC plans between March and August 2026August 2026201 (5%)London Borough of Waltham Forest, Schools Forum report pack, 21 October 2026 (DSG forecast 2026-27; SENIF extension) (October 2026), p. 29