Families 'distressed' by special needs failures

Families are becoming "increasingly distressed" due to "widespread failings" in special educational needs (SEND) provision in Lancashire, a report has said.

Inspectors found too many children were waiting an "unacceptable" time period to have their needs assessed and met.

The five-day joint inspection by education watchdog Ofsted and healthcare regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC), concluded that "young people and their families are impacted negatively by the long waits that they experience".

The Lancashire SEND Partnership said it was "bitterly disappointed" by the report but said it understood the criticisms made and had already begun making changes.

Jacqui Old from Lancashire SEND Partnership Board, who is executive director for education and children's Services at Lancashire County Council, said: "We acknowledge and understand the inspectors' findings and we know that, through our commitment to providing the right support at the right time for children and young people with SEND, we can make vital improvements."

The inspection report described how assessment and diagnosis of children believed to have neurodiversity related conditions like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) "was not working well".

"This results in long delays and families becoming increasingly distressed," it said.

"Children and young people's circumstances often worsen while they wait."

In frustration, the inspectors found, parents were paying for private assessments which had been recommending medication that local NHS paediatricians were then unable to sanction.

Health professionals were then finding themselves drawn into appeals and tribunals which created further delays.

The inspection found that producing education, health and care (EHC) plans for children and young people with SEND took an "excessive amount of time".

"Difficulties with many aspects of the EHC plan process mean that plans are often of a poor quality," the report said.

Inspectors noted the experiences of teenagers receiving support who were about to transition to working with adult services was "variable".

The report did note that overall educational outcomes for SEND children were improving and the partnership was praised for a "well-established framework to identify and support children who may have SEND from birth".

Professor Sarah O'Brien, chair of Lancashire SEND Partnership and chief nursing officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "Unacceptable waiting times for children and young people with SEND is a national challenge and one that we recognise in Lancashire and South Cumbria."

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