The number of children and young people in North Yorkshire who have autism as a primary need on their care plan has risen by 387% since 2015.
North Yorkshire Council funded 386 education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children with autism as a primary need in 2015 and now funds 1,879.
As of the last quarter of 2023-24, the unitary authority was funding a total of 4,877 EHCPs.
Since the Government introduced the care plans in 2014, the number of plans funded by North Yorkshire has increased at a ‘markedly higher’ rate than in other regions, according to a council report.
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of EHCPs funded by North Yorkshire increased by 43%, compared to a national average increase of 33%.
Despite this, the council acknowledged a ‘considerable backlog’ in getting the information required for EHCP assessments, leading to recent delays in issuing the plans.
It blamed a shortage of educational psychologists, adding that this is an issue for local authorities across the country.
