Ofsted tells Stockton Council to improve SEND support

An inspection by Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May, focused on the SEND partnership in Stockton, which provides services for children and young people with SEND.

The report, published on Tuesday (July 28), highlighted that too many children in the area are not receiving the support they need at the right time.

Stockton Council said it recognised the report's findings and was committed to addressing areas for improvement.

Inspectors found "inconsistent experiences and outcomes" for these children and young people, and have called for improvements within the partnership.

While some children achieve positive outcomes and successfully transition to the next stage of education or employment, many do not receive the necessary support at the right time.

This lack of timely support limits their progress and long-term prospects.

Concerns were also raised about the quality of education, health, and care (EHC) plans, which vary significantly.

Inspectors found that some plans clearly set out children's needs and ambitions, while others fail to fully capture their circumstances, aspirations, and the input of health and social care professionals.

The inspection also found that children do not always have their SEND needs identified early enough.

While some schools and early years settings provide highly effective support, missed opportunities elsewhere can leave pupils disengaged from education, contributing to poor attendance, suspensions, exclusions, and moves into elective home education.

Long waits for neurodevelopmental assessments are another major concern.

Inspectors said delays increase anxiety for families and can slow access to appropriate support, while leaders need a better understanding of the impact the waiting lists are having on children and young people.

The report noted that support in mainstream schools is not consistent, particularly for children receiving SEN support without an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

Parents told inspectors that while some schools are welcoming and committed to improving outcomes, others do not adequately meet children's needs.

As a result, too many young people become disengaged from education and require specialist intervention.

Children who are permanently excluded from school wait too long to return to full-time education because there are not enough suitable local places available, with some being placed far from home.

Councillor Clare Besford for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said: "We acknowledge the inspectors' conclusion that more needs to be done. We are not complacent and are committed to addressing the areas for improvement identified in the report.

Working with our schools, partners, children and young people and their families, we will deliver the improvements needed to ensure every child and young person with SEND receives the support they need to thrive and achieve their full potential."

The partnership was also praised in several areas, including ambitious leadership, strong involvement from the Parent Carer Forum, effective early years support, and programmes such as Stockton-on-Tees Talks, which are helping improve speech, language, and communication skills.

Children in care with SEND were found to receive effective support and timely access to mental health services, while SEND youth forums were recognised for helping young people influence decisions and shape services.

The report sets out four key areas for improvement, including improving support during major transitions , ensuring EHC plans accurately reflect children's needs, improving consistency across mainstream schools, and reducing waiting times.