Send report 'a foundation for lasting change'

A blueprint setting out how services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) can be improved will be used to implement "immediate change".

The Suffolk Public Health and Communities Knowledge, Intelligence and Evidence Team has published its "deliberately thorough" 177-page Needs Assessment.

The report explores – among other areas - the gaps in the county's services and the effectiveness of the provisions currently on offer.

It comes after Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) criticised Suffolk's Send provisions and raised "serious concerns" after an inspection in November 2023.

Send services in the county are provided by Suffolk County Council, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), and NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB.

Sarah-Jane Smedmor, executive director of Children and Young People's Services at Suffolk County Council, hoped lessons could be learned from the report.

She said: "This is a timely report furnishing us with data-rich analysis which will help us make big decisions about the future of Send provision in Suffolk.

"It allows us to see the bigger picture and means we can identify priorities and plan our resources better to fulfil those needs."

In 2022-23, £155 on average was spent on each Send child or young person in Suffolk, with 99% being assessed and issued with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

The number of people needing to be assessed, however, could increase further, as the report said the demand for Send services would increase in future.

Between 2015 and 2024, the number of children with Send rose from 12.4% of the school-age population to 18.1% (20,268).

This also applied to those with complex needs requiring EHC plans, which increased from 2.5% to 4.6%.

Known as the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) Needs Assessment, the report also identified 10 keys changes that should be implemented.

They included the need to address how long it took for children to be assessed and diagnosed, and to better listen to the views of young people and their families.

Claire Smith, chair of the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum, said: "Families' perspectives are essential for predicting the future of Send in Suffolk.

"They play a crucial role in recognising current and future gaps, and it is vital we prioritise the outcomes for the children and young people of Suffolk."

Elsewhere in the report, it suggested considering if additional support was required for children and young people impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was also stressed that a plan should be put in place to ensure any inequalities, which may be present in the county's provision, would be minimised and addressed.

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said the report highlighted the "highs and lows" of the Send services.

She said some of it made for "difficult reading", but highlighted there were also sections "where our services are exceeding expectation".

Ed Garratt, chief executive at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, said the report was "of significant importance".

He said it would "prove a useful resource" and serve as "a foundation to achieve meaningful, lasting change in Send provision across Suffolk".

The report will be discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday.

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