SEND service 'too poor for too long' - report

Inspectors found the special education services had been 'too poor for too long'.

Inspectors have said a service for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has been "too poor for too long".

Ofsted found trust had broken down in the services run by Bury Council and NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

"Widespread failings" such as poor communication, long waits for assessments, and lack of provision were identified in an inspection held in February.

A spokesman for the council and the NHS board said changes were underway but added many local areas were "struggling" to meet a "huge increase" in demand.

'Frustration'

Inspectors visited the SEND services in Bury in February.

They found many young people and families had experienced a "stop/start" approach to the support given.

Many had been waiting too long to get help, including those waiting for specialist health assessments.

There were also delays to speech and language therapy.

Education, health and care plans (EHCPs) were often "significantly" out of date, and did not reflect a child's changing needs, contributing to "frustration" with the system, inspectors said.

The education watchdog acknowledge the council had started several "transformational" projects to improve SEND services, but said it was too early to judge their success.

Bury Council and the NHS board said the findings were disappointing, but that they recognised "the distance we still must go".

A spokesman said a "major reason" for the service's struggles had been an 85% rise in children on Education Health and Care plans (EHCPs) in the last five years, above the 60% hike recorded nationally.

“All local areas are struggling to meet this increase in need," the spokesman said.

The legal documents set out requirements for children and young people up to the age of 25 whose needs cannot be fully supported through special educational support.

Increased mental health funding, weekly parent care forums, and plans for two new special schools in Bury are among the steps being taken to improve the service, the council spokesman said.