Council to discuss boost for area's SEND services
BBCNew policies and guidance along with calls for a government review of special education needs and disabilities (SEND) provision are among 42 recommendations made to improve services in parts of Cheshire.
A review was launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council in the summer.
Families had protested outside the council’s offices earlier this year amid dissatisfaction with current services.
The report will be discussed by councillors at a meeting later.
The report said that dissatisfaction with the SEND system had been growing both locally and nationally.
It said the increase in number of requests for assessments, staff shortages and provision for families with more complex needs were among the reasons, alongside various issues during the pandemic.
“As a result, some Cheshire West families have been waiting too long for assessments, plans and support,” the report said.
Local authorities have a target to undertake educational health care plans (EHCPs) within 20 weeks.
The national average is 49% of plans completed within that time, but it is lower in the Cheshire West and Chester council area.
In the second quarter of the current financial year, the rate for the borough was 7.4%.
The report makes recommendations in various areas, including improving communication with families, taking a look at how staff work with schools and more scrutiny of services by the council.
It also highlights issues around staff turnover, sickness and recruitment.
It said this had left some families feeling “frustrated, anxious and powerless, and then subsequently feeling dissatisfied with the service, eventually losing trust in the system”.
The report also said that although the focus was on local issues, it could not avoid the national picture and the whole system needed reform.
As a result, the report recommends that the council writes to the government requesting that a complete review of SEND provision.
The report will be discussed by councillors before going before a full cabinet meeting next month.
Why not follow BBC North West on X? For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]