Failings over timely delivery of therapy services for SEND children ‘unacceptable’
Reporter: Charlotte Green, Local Democracy Reporter
Date published: 20 September 2023
Council leader Arooj Shah (centre) speaks about the five-year SEND strategy
Failings to provide timely crucial therapy services for children with special needs and disabilities are ‘unacceptable’, Oldham’s council leader has said.
The borough’s cabinet has approved a new five-year strategy which will shape services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It comes after inspectors criticised Oldham’s SEND services for for ‘unacceptable’ waiting times and years-long delays which are ‘negatively impacting’ youngsters’ wellbeing.
A joint watchdog inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission published last month raised ‘significant concerns’, and stated that the Oldham Local Area Partnership – which includes the NHS – must ‘urgently’ address and improve issues of delays, and the quality of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.
It found there are ‘widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities’.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, Council leader Arooj Shah said: “It’s unacceptable that children are waiting too long for speech and language therapy.
"It’s also unacceptable that they wait too long for mental health support and this council has to lead the improvements that are needed.
“This strategy is key to that and it’s been developed with parents, carers and providers.
"And it already has received praise from the SEND inspection team and their letter specifically states that this strategy is well thought out and reflective of the current needs within Oldham.”
She said there were ‘early signs’ that the new approach, which was drafted before the joint inspection, has the ‘potential to have a positive impact’.
The meeting was told the key priorities of the plan were based on reviews of the current system, and included working with communities to identify needs earlier and deliver support quicker.
It would also improve access to education and secure better outcomes for children with autism.
Other priorities set out in the plan include identifying the needs of children and young people with speech, language and communication needs at the earliest stage and making sure every experience a child has with a SEND-related service is a good one.
Councillor Mohon Ali, cabinet member for education and skills said: “This strategy is a crucial step in building the services our children and families need and deserve.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the highest amount of care and attention and this plan sets out just how we plan to achieve that.
“The five-year strategy aims to ensure that every family’s experience of the borough’s SEND services is a good experience and all children, and gives them the opportunity they need they need to fulfil their potential.”
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