Council publishes SEND improvement plan

A council has published a draft plan on how it will improve its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) service after it was found to have "widespread and systemic failings" by Ofsted.

Bracknell Forest Council and Frimley Integrated Care Board were subject to a joint Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in February.

A report found "too many" children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities did "not have their needs swiftly identified and met", with many missing "a substantial amount of their schooling" as a result.

Cabinet member for children's services Roy Bailey apologised "unreservedly" on the council's behalf.

While the inspection found examples of effective services, Ofsted and the CQC outlined three areas for priority action and seven areas for improvement.

Bracknell Forest Council is submitting a priority action plan to the Department for Education, the draft of which includes creating a new SEND strategic improvement and assurance board which will meet monthly, and summarising how many children have SEND in the borough as well as forecasting future trends.

The plan also says the council will conduct a "thorough" review of current SEND data, identifying gaps and areas for improvement.

In April, Mr Bailey said: "We want the best possible start to life for all our children and young people and so we know we must continue with our improvement plans so they get the right, education, health and care support.

"We are absolutely determined in our commitment to improve."

Bracknell MP Peter Swallow said the report "has put in black and white what parents have been saying for too long".

The Labour MP said: "Steps in the right direction have been made, but change must be deep and lasting - and this report gives all partners a pathway to success."

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