DEVON County Council (DCC) has said it needs to address the way funding is allocated to children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans.

The current system, and how decisions are made about how much funding a child receives based on their needs, is not fit for purpose, the council acknowledges.

Families and schools say that the current system is inconsistent, with decisions varying between children, schools or panels.

They say that it’s hard to understand why one child gets one level of funding and another doesn’t

And, they say the current system can lead to long waits, appeals and confusion.

So, the council has appointed experts, Peopletoo, an independent organisation with years of experience in helping local authorities across the country improve the way they work, to review the council’s current EHCP banding framework.

The council and Peopletoo will be talking to schools and other stakeholders, but most importantly, they want to talk with parents and carers of children and young people with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to better understand their experience.

The council and Peopletoo plan to run a series of in-person and online events and surveys for parents and carers during September 2025.

They’re working with the Parent Carer Forum Devon to arrange the engagement events and to identify dates and suitable locations in Devon communities.

The council wants to co-design the new framework with parents and young people at its heart, that helps families understand how funding decisions are made; makes sure that children with similar needs are treated consistently; gives schools the tools they need to plan support; and that avoids the need for appeals or escalation.