Inspection report into special educational needs and disabilities published
Services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) ‘typically lead to positive experiences and outcomes’, a new report shows.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published an inspection report today (Wednesday 31 May) and say ‘most children and young people’s needs are identified accurately and assessed in a timely and effective way right from the start’.
Brighton & Hove City Council and NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board are jointly responsible for delivering services for children and young people with SEND in the city.
‘The right help at the right time’
The report also states: “Communication between partner agencies is strong. This includes with the parent carers council known as PaCC and voluntary organisations such as Amaze, which hosts the local SEND information advice and support service (SENDIASS).
“Children and young people typically get the right help at the right time” and “In schools, staff are increasingly well trained to understand the different needs of children and young people with SEND.”
The report highlights what the partnership is doing effectively and sets out what it needs to do better to improve services for children and young people with SEND.
What the partnership is doing effectively
- The partnership is ambitious for the city’s children and young people with SEND, and staff work together with a genuine sense of dedication
- It understands the needs of children and young people
- It listens to parents, carers, children and young people in the running of the services
- Social workers work well with the children and families they support
- The Youth Employability Service (YES) helps young people find education, employment and training post-16 places
- The help and advice provided by the local SEND information advice and support service (SENDIASS) is highly valued
What the partnership needs to do better
- Help children and young people be better prepared for adulthood, including education, employment or training for children at risk
- Monitor the quality of EHC (education, health and care) plans and ensure they better reflect the child’s needs
- Shorten to time some children and young people wait to find a specialist school place
- Communicate more effectively and regularly with families, children and young people
Areas for improvement
- Prepare SEND children and young people for adulthood more effectively
- Continue developing services to ensure they meet the needs of children and young people’s SEND
- Monitor and measure the quality of SEND services and keep families, children and young people fully up to speed with what’s working and what isn’t
Deb Austin, Executive Director for Families Children & Learning at the council, said: “We welcome this inspection report as it both highlights the good work the partnership is doing but also shows where we must improve, so there’s no room for complacency.
“What has been invaluable is the involvement of PaCC (the Parent and Carers Council) and Amaze. We continue to welcome the challenge they provide to the partnership to further improve support and services for children with SEND and their families.”
'The right help and support to lead successful lives'
Dr Dinesh Sinha, NHS Sussex Chief Medical Officer, said: “We are committed to ensuring that all young people receive the right help and support they need to lead successful lives, and welcome the report’s findings.
“We recognise that there are challenges in relation to waiting times for some health services, and we are working with stakeholders to improve our support offers.
“We will continue to work with all our partners, including children, young people and their families, to further develop arrangements to ensure that health services meet children and young people’s special educational needs now and in the future.”
'We're committed to continuing hard work and partnerships'
Councillor Lucy Helliwell, joint chair of the council’s Children, Families and Schools committee, said: “This report shows the great work that our staff and the NHS are undertaking for our children and young people with SEND and their families, with the support of PaCC and Amaze.
“As the new leadership of the council, we’re committed to continuing this work and look forward to working in partnership with everyone involved in special educational needs and disabilities in the city.”