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Hundreds of youngsters across Staffordshire are waiting several months for crucial legal documentation needed to tailor their education.

Staffordshire County Council has missed a 20-week legal deadline for finalising education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in the cases of nearly 500 children. The plans detail the extra, specific help needed by pupils with special educational needs.

The authority has seen rising demand in recent years with the number of children holding EHCPs across the county climbing beyond 8,000 last year. Some families were waiting several weeks just for a decision on whether their children would undergo EHCP assessment, a meeting heard.

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Dr Halit Hulusi, the council's head

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