Local Democracy Reporting Service
Google“Widespread” and “systematic” failings have been found by inspectors looking at a council’s care for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said they had significant concerns about Tameside Council’s SEND provision which needed to be addressed urgently.
The authority’s wider children’s services department was found to have “serious failures” and placed in special measures 18 months ago.
The authority’s executive member for lifelong learning and culture, Leanne Feeley said she fully accepted the findings and was “determined to deliver the changes our children, young people and families need and deserve”.
‘Culture of distrust’
The report said: “Too many children and young people with SEND, and their families, do not receive the support that they need to thrive.”
It said a fundamental barrier that remained was “an overwhelming culture of distrust and frustration from stakeholders in Tameside”, adding that although some inroads had been made in winning hearts and minds, there was much more still to do.
Officials who carried out the inspection in May found children were waiting too long for education, health and care (EHC) plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Although improvements were seen in more recent support plans, the quality of older plans was found by the watchdog to be generally poor.
The report, published on Thursday, criticised a lack of understanding of child exploitation risks and detailed how children felt they did not have enough say in their support plans.
It also found older SEND children to be more at risk of exclusion from school and detailed how many families struggle with accessing mental health services.
‘Long road ahead’
Leanne Feeley said: “While we are encouraged by the recognition of recent progress and the confidence shown in our new leadership, we know there is a long road ahead.”
She said the council was committed to working openly “to rebuild trust and deliver lasting improvements”.
The report comes after the authority was given a SEND improvement notice by the government, which found an “endemic weakness” in children’s support plans.
Many similar issues were found in this latest SEND inspection, but a “renewed determination to improve the lives of children and young people with SEND” was noted.
Inspectors welcomed a significant cash investment into the service, along with the appointment of new director of children’s services, Jill Colbert.
They also praised the authority’s effective help for children with speech and language needs and SEND support in the early years.
