Ofsted and health watchdog the Care Quality Commission visited Hillingdon in December and were particularly impressed by the use of personal budgets among families with children who have SEND.
In a letter to Tony Zaman, Hillingdon Borough Council's adult and children's services corporate director, the inspection team singled out an "ambition to use personal budgets as the vehicle to a more creative approach to care packages for children and young people" as a positive.
This includes using personal travel budgets to promote independence and "enable parents and carers to plan transport arrangements that suit their lifestyle".
The academic progress of children with SEND was also welcomed. At both primary and secondary level they "make good progress", the letter states.
"Outcomes are particularly strong for these pupils at the end of the early years foundation stage and in the Year 1 phonics screening check," the letter adds.
"They achieve well because their needs are well catered for in schools, colleges and early years providers. A high proportion move on successfully to employment or further education."
The involvement of parents and carers in local policymaking was also praised, with inspectors welcoming the fact that they sit on planning boards.
"Consequently, their views are taken into account as early as possible when planning improvements for children and young people," the letter states.
But while Hillingdon's clinical commissioning group was backed for its commitment to successfully implementing SEND reforms, the designated medical officer tasked with providing strategic oversight was found to be "hampered" because he lacks the time to fulfill the role in the half day per week currently allocated.
Other areas for improvement include involving GPs more in health assessments of those with learning disabilities. Currently just 41 per cent offer this in the borough.
Inspectors also wanted to see an improvement in the online local offer of services and support, which "remains difficult to navigate".
They also believe that the council can do more to further improve academic performance of SEND pupils. While at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 those with low or high attainment did well, there was less progress among SEND pupils in the middle attainment bracket, inspectors found.
