Nottinghamshire Local Area SEND self-evaluation framework

Local Area SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) partnerships are asked to provide Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with a self-evaluation before their annual engagement meeting.

There is no prescribed format, but it should be kept concise and include information about recent developments to the local SEND system. It should also include any improvements to areas of weakness identified by Ofsted and the CQC, and cover the following questions:

What do you know about the impact of your arrangements for children and young people with SEND?
How do you know what impact your arrangements for children and young people with SEND are having?
What are your plans for the next 12 months to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND?

Nottinghamshire's current self-evaluation was completed for the Annual Engagement meeting with Ofsted and the CQC in November 2024. It focused on the two Priority Actions identified by 2023 Ofsted and CQC local area SEND inspection report [PDF].

Partnership achievements over the past 12 to 18 months

Stronger governance structures

Stronger governance structures have been established alongside stronger working arrangements to ensure leaders co-operate and hold shared priorities and accountability for the outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The voices of children, young people and their parents and carers are included within our partnership.

Education, health and care plans (EHCPs)

Ensured more children and young people with SEND are receiving timely assessment through EHCPs
50% of EHCPs have been completed within statutory timelines so far in 2025, compared to 4.5% at the time of inspection.
Improvement made in the context of a 23% increase in requests and 80% increase in new EHCPs completed.

Shorter wait times

Children and young people are waiting less for neuro-developmental and speech language and communication needs support (SLCN).
Average wait times for the Neurodevelopmental Support Team (NST) have reduced from 68 weeks in December 2023 to 55 weeks in February 2025.
Median wait times for SCLN input into autism pathway have reduced from 48 weeks in January 2023 to 25 weeks in February 2025.
Families say they are experiencing better communication and support whilst waiting.

Commissioning strategy

Our new joint commissioning strategy is helping leaders to find and address delays and gaps in access to services.

Shared data

Our new shared data dashboard means the local area partnership can now better monitor outcomes for our children and young people with SEND.

Partnership leaders can review data to identify gaps and whether actions taken to address these are effective.

What will the local area partnership focus on in the next 12 months?

Continue to improve our co-production and engagement with children, young people and families.
Re-design and implement a new statutory SEND service structure that will respond and meet local needs and create cultural change that embeds relational and strengths-based practice to improve the experiences and outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Refresh our EHCP quality assurance framework to ensure learning is communicated and embedded in practice across the local SEND system.
Embed the SEND journey map within local education, health and care services so that it is being used by frontline practitioners to support children and families to navigate our local SEND system.
Continue to act on feedback and improve the SEND Local Offer and to drive improvement in the online presence and accessibility of service and provider information.
In partnership with education setting leaders, support district-level initiatives which promote inclusive practice in individual and groups of education settings, supported by local multi-agency professionals.
Review and relaunch the Nottinghamshire Improving Educational Opportunities for All strategy with a priority focus on reducing school exclusions and suspensions, including for children and young people with SEND.
Improve transitions into further education and adult services for young people with SEND.
Review and evaluate the impact of new SEND bridging funding to support the transition of young children with SEND from early years and childcare settings into school.
Develop the shared data dashboard so that it is effective in supporting strategic planning and decision-making.
Increasing the capacity for alternative provision is a priority with additional provision will be commissioned where it is most needed.
Continue to expand specialist educational provision including additional special school places, enhanced provision with mainstream schools and on mainstream school sites.
Ensure that more of the local area's workforce are knowledgeable and confident with the right skills to understand and meet the needs of children and young people with SEND by scoping development requirements and delivering appropriate training.
Explore how the SEND training assurance framework could be expanded to a multi-agency training offer across Nottinghamshire.
Undertake system-wide reviews to reduce waiting times for specialist health therapy assessments and ensure experiences of provided services including speech, language and communications needs, sensory support, sleep support and occupational therapy.
New multi-agency working group will work towards solutions relating to complex healthcare provision in schools, using a collaborative approach.