More than 100 Brent teenagers with special needs are among 10,000 across England being “failed” by councils, it has been claimed.

Essential care plans were not in place for 106 out of 112 pupils moving to colleges, sixth-forms or apprenticeships in Brent this year by the government’s deadline of March 31, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal.

Education Health Care Plans (ECHP) are a legal requirement.

They identify the pupil’s educational, health and social needs and set out the required support, ensuring all authorities are kept up-to-date with the child’s needs.

Law firm Simpson Millar, which requested the data, said councils nationwide were “failing” pupils with special needs.

A spokeswoman from Brent Council said the government moved the deadline forward by two months in September last year, which it had been working towards.

She said: “We knew the new deadline would be challenging given the volume of transition reviews required in other age groups and the difficulty in the recruitment of experienced staff. However, we have worked closely with our young people to prioritise their plans.”