INSPECTORS have found ‘fundamental failings’ in the county council’s service for children and young people with special education needs.

The Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection, carried out in November, revealed several areas of County Hall’s special educational needs and disability (SEND) service have weaknesses.

These include inaccurate understanding of the area, lack of strategic leadership and no effective strategy to improve outcomes of children with disabilities.

However the inspection revealed the service was effective in identifying children and young people’s special educational needs and disabilities.

During the five-day visit, inspectors reviewed documentation, observed frontline practice and held face to face meetings with families.

They spoke to staff at all levels, children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents and carers, school governors, and leaders from each area for health, social care and education.

Within the report, a spokesman on behalf of the CQC and Ofsted, said: “There are two fundamental failings in Lancashire local area.

“Children, young people and their families are not at the heart of the delivery of the SEND reforms and leaders have failed to work together to deliver these reforms.

“As a result, children’s and young people’s needs are not always being effectively identified or met and many outcomes are not improving. Parents report bewilderment and confusion about how decisions are made by services about their children. They do not believe that systems and processes are transparent and fair.”

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County Cllr Tony Martin, chairman of The Rose School, a special needs school in Burnley, said: “The findings are not a surprise because of the cuts which have bitten families deeper and deeper. The issue is the council are not listening to the parents. If the council don’t change things it could get to a point where parents can’t cope with their children and they will have to go in care, which is horrendously expensive, rather than meeting the needs of a home with loving and tender care of the family.”

The inspection was designed to judge how effectively the council and clinical commissioning group have implemented the disability and special educational needs reforms, set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

The report revealed the youth offending team and special educational services work together to deliver good-quality, safe and sustainable restorative services, which would improve the life chances of children and young people.

County Cllr Susie Charles, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “Children and families are at the heart of what we do and we are committed to giving all young people, whatever their background or needs, the best possible start in life.

“The inspectors’ findings are of concern and we know that improvements must be made to ensure that the experience of children, young people and their families who access these vital services is a positive one. We have identified and started to implement a number of actions to address the issues found and staff are working hard to make changes.

“Since I became the responsible cabinet member following the county council elections in May last year, I have taken this issue very seriously and whilst disappointed with some of the findings I am pleased that the inspectors acknowledged the emerging signs of improvement. They recognised that the culture and focus in Lancashire had begun to change in recent months and that professionals could see the benefits of finding joint solutions to common challenges.

“They also praised a number of areas of service delivery and practice, including the high attendance rates for children and young people who have SEN support and those who have an education, health and care plan or statement. A joint written statement of action by County Hall and the areas’ clinical commissioning groups will now be sent to Ofsted outlining what improvement will be made.

"Rest assured we will continue to work hard with schools, colleges, health providers and the voluntary sector to make sure there is a level playing field for all children and young people."