FOI release

Neurodivergent children Experience Living in Temporary Accommodation

Case reference FOI2026/00400

Received 9 March 2026

Published 16 March 2026

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the information below relating to households with dependent children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and who have been accepted as homeless and/or placed in Temporary Accommodation by the authority. If exact figures cannot be provided, please supply the nearest available data or confirm that the information is not held. Aggregate data only is requested; no personal data is sought. 1. 1. For the last year, please supply the number of households with dependent children placed in Temporary Accommodation; 2. For the last year, please supply the number of those households known to include at least one child with an EHCP. 3. If the authority does not routinely record whether homeless households include children with EHCPs, please confirm this and explain where (if at all) this information would be recorded within housing needs assessments or homelessness systems. 4. 1. For the last year, please supply the number of households with children – with no EHCPs – were placed in Temporary Accommodation outside the local authority area. b) For the last year, please supply the number of households with children – with one or more EHCPs – were placed in Temporary Accommodation outside the local authority area. 2. Please confirm whether the authority routinely records information on children’s SEN or EHCPs when completing Section 208 notifications? 3. When a household with a child who has an EHCP is placed in Temporary Accommodation, including out of area: 1. what procedures are in place to notify the current and new SEND service; and 2. what procedures are in place to ensure transfer and continuity of EHCP provision in line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. 3. Does the authority record or monitor whether children with EHCPs experience any interruption or delay to the provision specified in their EHCP following placement in Temporary Accommodation? If yes, please describe the monitoring approach. 4. Does the authority have a policy or protocol for maintaining or funding home-to-school transport for children with EHCPs who are placed out of area due to homelessness? 5. Are housing suitability assessments adapted or given additional consideration where a household includes a child with an EHCP or other SEN? Please provide a brief description of any such adjustments or guidance. 6. What training (if any) is mandatory for housing officers in relation to: 1. SEND and EHCPs; 2. safeguarding children.

Response

1. For the last year, please supply the number of households with dependent children placed in Temporary Accommodation;

Between 1st March 2025 - 28th February 2026, 44 households containing at least one dependent child was provided with temporary accommodation.


2. For the last year, please supply the number of those households known to include at least one child with an EHCP.

Information not held by TWBC. EHCP's are issued and recorded by Kent County Council (KCC)


3. If the authority does not routinely record whether homeless households include children with EHCPs, please confirm this and explain where (if at all) this information would be recorded within housing needs assessments or homelessness systems.

This information is not routinely recorded on our housing case management system. This information may be recorded within the assessment of housing and support needs within the personalised housing plan.

1. For the last year, please supply the number of households with children - with no EHCPs - were placed in Temporary Accommodation outside the local authority area.

Between 1st March 2025 - 28th February 2026, 10 households containing at least one dependent child were provided with temporary accommodation outside of the borough of Tunbridge Wells.


b) For the last year, please supply the number of households with children - with one or more EHCPs - were placed in Temporary Accommodation outside the local authority area.

Information not held by TWBC. EHCP's are issued and recorded by KCC.


2. Please confirm whether the authority routinely records information on children's SEN or EHCPs when completing Section 208 notifications?

Information not held by TWBC. EHCP's are issued and recorded by KCC.


3. When a household with a child who has an EHCP is placed in Temporary Accommodation, including out of area:


1. what procedures are in place to notify the current and new SEND service; and

No formal procedures in place.


2. what procedures are in place to ensure transfer and continuity of EHCP provision in line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014.

No formal procedures in place.


3. Does the authority record or monitor whether children with EHCPs experience any interruption or delay to the provision specified in their EHCP following placement in Temporary Accommodation?

No formal procedures in place to record information.


If yes, please describe the monitoring approach.


4. Does the authority have a policy or protocol for maintaining or funding home-to-school transport for children with EHCPs who are placed out of area due to homelessness?

No formal procedures in place.


5. Are housing suitability assessments adapted or given additional consideration where a household includes a child with an EHCP or other SEN?

Full suitability consideration given for each household depending on individual circumstances.


Please provide a brief description of any such adjustments or guidance.


6. What training (if any) is mandatory for housing officers in relation to:


1. SEND and EHCPs;

No specific training given.


2. safeguarding children.

All staff are required to undertake safeguarding level 2 training as part of induction.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.