Ofsted criticises 'delusional leaders' for SEND failures
Neil Puffett
Monday, July 31, 2017
Serious concerns have been raised about the quality of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bury, with inspectors warning that progress has been hampered because of complacent leadership.
Inspectors said leaders in Bury were found to lack rigour in their evaluation of the strengths and weakness of support in the local area, and displayed a "worrying degree of complacency".
"There has been a misplaced attitude that provision for children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities was good," states a letter outlining the findings of a joint Ofsted and CQC visit.
"It is only with the arrival of a number of newly appointed leaders that there is less delusion about the reality of the situation."
However, inspectors said that not all leaders share the accurate view that the new leaders have - a situation that has "hindered the pace of reform".
"These new leaders rightly place Bury as being two years behind where they should be in terms of implementation of the code of practice," the letter states.
"Children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families have been let down."?
Bury Council has recently experienced significant change in its senior leadership team, with chief executive Mike Owen resigning in June and director of children's services Mark Carriline stepping down last month.
The pair had been suspended in February in relation to claims they delayed implementing child safeguarding procedures when allegations about a former Labour councillor emerged.
Inspectors found that across Bury, there was no SEND strategy in place and co-production of services was "non existent".
They said that a lack of joined-up thinking and working in Bury "undermines the commitment and dedication of many professionals across the local area".
"It also hampers the effectiveness of good practice which exists within specific provisions and services," the letter adds.
Inspectors also found that systems to share information within health services and with other agencies and partners are "antiquated and inefficient".
There was also a lack of capacity within schools to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, and far too many were being excluded from school.
However, despite the weaknesses, inspectors did say that Bury has an impressive record of ensuring that all education, health and care plan assessments have taken place within the 20-week period.
They added that the local area is well placed to have transferred all statements of educational need to EHC plans by March 2018. "The EHC plans are very well written and parents readily recognise their children in the plans," the letter states.
"Outcomes and needs are made clear and provide professionals with the information they need in planning to meet the needs of the children and young people."
Despite this, inspectors identified that a number of health professionals from different services were unaware of the EHC plans for children and young people under their care.
Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, interim chief executive of Bury Council, said the report highlights a lot of good practice in the SEND services provided by the council and clinical commissioning group (CCG).
"However, we accept the criticisms that there are serious shortcomings in the way health, education and social care services have worked together, and that we need to put families at the heart of the process," he said.
"The council and the CCG had already identified some of the main shortcomings found in the inspection, and had commissioned an external review of current arrangements and services. This review will be central in drawing up a formal plan of action to address the areas of weakness identified by the inspection.
"Services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities are among our top priorities. Working with the CCG, I am absolutely determined to get our procedures right and improve the way we plan and provide those services."