Council leaders have agreed to spend up to £1.6 million on external staff to carry out assessments for children with special needs.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been struggling to recruit its own educational psychologists (EPs) since 2020, due to a national staffing shortage, with five out of six positions at the authority currently vacant.

EPs play a key role in preparing the education, health and care plans (EHCPs) that allow children to access extra support at school – demand for EHCPs has shot up across the country in recent years.

The city council has been using an existing 'call-off' agreement with recruitment agency Reed to appoint locum EPs.

This has resulted in the proportion of EHCPs being completed within the 20-week time limit increasing from 29 per cent to 84 per cent.

According to a council report, Stoke-on-Trent is now performing 'comfortably ahead' of the national average, but sustaining this will require 'continued access to timely educational psychology advice'.

With the contract with Reed set to end in December, cabinet members have agreed to launch a procurement exercise to commission external EP services for two years.

Cllr Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services, said the authority would still aim to recruit and train its own EPs during this period.

She said: "Due to a national shortage of educational psychologists and local recruitment challenges, the council currently has vacant positions.

"To avoid delays and maintain legal compliance the council wishes to launch a formal tender to bring in qualified external professionals.

"This will ensure assessments are completed on time and to a high standard.

"The council will continue trying to hire permanent staff and training local candidates while using external support to maintain service levels.

"This move is part of a broader effort to improve SEND services and ensure every child receives the timely expert support that they deserve."

The external EPs will cost the council up to £1.6 million over the two years, although this will be reduced if the authority is able to recruit more internal staff.