EDUCATION bosses have been praised for meeting a vital deadline for children with special educational needs.

The department for education has written to the council confirming that they have successfully completed transfers to new Education Health and Care Plans for children by the April deadline.

School pupils with a statement of special educational needs require their records to be transferred to an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in a process which requires intensive work by officers to ensure each individual’s plan is up to date and tailored to the child’s requirements.

Bolton Council’s cabinet member for education, schools, safeguarding and looked after children, Cllr Ann Cunliffe, said: "I’d like to thank parents and schools for their co-operation in this detailed process. Our dedicated officers work extremely hard to ensure that every child has the correct and appropriate support in place.

"This involves 100s of children and their families, and I’m delighted we have been able to complete all the transfers on time. We are often criticised when things go wrong, but I think it’s only fair that we give praise when we get it right."

The Children and Families Act (2014) introduced changes ensuring children are supported up to the age of 25 if needed.

In a letter to Bolton Council, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi MP, said: "I want to thank you, your colleagues and partners for the commitment and hard work you have shown to completing the transfers on schedule."