SEND Ofsted inspection Nottinghamshire 2023
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently visited Nottinghamshire to assess how effective the local education, health and care services are at identifying, and meeting the needs of, children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25.
They have now published their findings: Read the inspection report.
Leaders apologise for delays to services for young people with SEND, read more.Nottinghamshire’s area SEND inspection was one of a small number nationally to be carried out under a new framework.
The Nottinghamshire local area inspection highlighted significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND in Nottinghamshire. The partnership has been asked to address these concerns urgently.
Firstly, they need to:
- identify, assess and provide for the needs of children and young people with SEND. This includes an assessment of needs, timely issuing of Education and Health and Care (EHC) plans and holistic oversight of these plans through annual reviews.
Secondly, NHS leaders, commissioners and providers are required to:
- act urgently to identify and address the delays and gaps in access to some health services, particularly speech and language therapy, neuro-developmental pathways and equipment services. NHS Leaders are also required to work together better to use available performance data to identify where gaps exist and whether actions taken to address these are effective.
The report also highlighted a number of strengths:
- all partnership leaders and professionals want the best for children and young people with SEND in Nottinghamshire
- children and young people are positive about how their views and aspirations are reflected in their individual EHC plans and the support they receive
- many young people with SEND receive effective support in securing employment, education, training and independent living as they become adults in Nottinghamshire
- alternative provision is a positive experience for many children and young people
- most children and young people awaiting a specialist placement receive suitable education in a timely manner.
A monitoring inspection will be carried out within approximately 18 months. The next full area SEND inspection will take place within approximately 3 years.
Need help or support?
Notts Parent Carer Forum
An independent parent carer led organisation run by volunteers who represent the views, experiences and ideas of families that live in or access services in Nottinghamshire and have a child or young person with an additional need and/or a disability.
Contact us with any questions or queries:
Contact Us – Notts Parent Carer Forum (nottspcf.org).
Ask Us Nottinghamshire is the information, advice and support service for young people and parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities. You can call the helpline or go to the website for help on a wide range of issues.
Ask Us can offer help to parents of a child with SEND, or if you are a young person up to the age of 25 looking for answers.
Contact Ask Us Nottinghamshire (askusnotts.org.uk)
ASK Us helpline: 0800 121 7772 (leave the details requested and Ask Us will get back to you within two working days).
Our local offer site, Notts Help Yourself is a one-stop shop of information for families, with a directory of services to support children and young people with additional needs and their families.
