Inspectors praise counselling support for SEND pupils in Cambridgeshire

According to Ofsted and health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the number of permanent school exclusions among children with SEND reduced by three quarters over a year.

A strong focus on ensuring they have access to counselling, both face-to-face and online, was seen as a key factor in the decline.
 
Inspectors said they were impressed that children and young people were involved in the design of counselling services, which are jointly commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

A strong relationship between head teachers and senior council and health managers was also said to have contributed to improvements in behaviour.

"An example of effective practice is leaders jointly commissioning face-to-face and online counselling services as part of their work to improve emotional health and wellbeing," a letter to senior health and council managers in Cambridgeshire states.

"Improvements are evident, for example, in the support for children and young people who display challenging behaviour.

"As a result of local area leaders and school leaders working together, the number of permanent exclusions of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities has reduced by three quarters in a 12-month period."

Inspectors also noted that SEND pupils at secondary schools in Cambridgeshire were achieving good grades and progressing in line with national averages for all children. However, they want to see improvements in attainment for SEND pupils at primary schools who are behind their peers.

Among other improvements inspectors want to see is better communication with parents, who are receiving inconsistent information about support available.

SEND support in Northamptonshire has also been praised by a joint CQC and Ofsted inspection team.

During their visit in May they found that children and young people's special needs are identified and assessed swiftly and backed by strong support within schools. But while those in special schools do well academically, their progress in mainstream schools is variable.

"The local area's approach to identifying children and young people's special educational needs and/or disabilities is increasingly effective," a letter to Northamptonshire County Council and Nene and Corby CCGs outlining the findings of the inspection states.

"Typically, agencies work well together to ensure that children's needs are identified and assessed quickly and suitable provision is put into place."