Wait times for SEN children remain high in county

Ofsted said last year that SEN children in Worcestershire "wait an unacceptable time to have their needs accurately identified, assessed and met".

Children in Worcestershire are waiting longer than two years to be assessed for autism and ADHD, new figures have shown.

Waiting lists for a number of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services remain high, a year after Ofsted inspectors highlighted an "unacceptable" wait time.

However, county councillors have been told the number of children waiting has risen since September 2024, and now sits at 7,800.

The NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is investing £2.6m to improve SEN provision, with £1.2m to tackle neurodivergence assessments involving children who have waited longer than two years.

Last year's Ofsted report indicated that children and young people with SEN in Worcestershire "wait an unacceptable time to have their needs accurately identified, assessed and met".

Authorities were told to address the delays in community paediatrics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and neurodevelopmental assessments, and to improve the support available while children wait.

'Not moving in right direction'

Neurodivergent conditions include autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Adam Johnston, director of children's services in Worcestershire, said despite the efforts being undertaken, "waiting lists still remain a matter of concern".

"The reality is the numbers are still not moving in the right direction," he told the council's children and families overview and scrutiny panel.

He said Ofsted and the CQC would likely be back in October to carry out follow-up inspections.

The panel was told there were 7,500 children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in the county.

Mr Johnston said: "We need to try something else as well as opposed to - instead of – other methods we can have in place that focus on children's needs."

This news was gathered by the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service.