Council warned to 'get a grip' after 'damning' SEND report:
Ofsted said there are “unacceptable” delays in children getting the support they need
lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/council-warned-get-grip-after-31002264
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Ofsted Report Condemns Lancashire SEND DelaysA partnership inspection found provision uneven and called for urgent improvements across the Lancashire County Council area.
Key FactsFeb 13, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: lancs.live
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: lancs.live
- Ofsted found unacceptable delays in children receiving needed support and called for urgent improvements to SEND services.
- Hyndburn Council leader Munsif Dad described the report as severe and plans to write to county leader Philippa Williamson.
- Meanwhile, independent county councillor for Nelson East Azhar Ali demanded education chief Jayne Rear’s immediate resignation.
- Williamson cited a £5 million 2025/26 budget and 265 additional places planned for creation during 2025.
Today’s Ofsted report on Lancashire County Council's SEND services is damning. It exposes widespread and systematic failings that have left vulnerable children and their families struggling.— Cllr Munsif Dad, leader of Hyndburn Council, speaking at Hyndburn cabinet meeting after Ofsted's report into Lancashire's SEND services.
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Key FactsOfsted criticises Lancashire SEND provision
Feb 12, 2025 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: lancs.live
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: lancs.live
- The five-day Ofsted inspection in December covered the SEND system in the Lancashire County Council area, excluding Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.
- Ofsted found widespread and/or systemic failings; children typically receive appropriate help after assessment, but delays often leave support mismatched to current needs and some reviews overdue by many years.
- The number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) rose by 55 percent, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, from 7,287 in January 2020 to 11,258 in January 2024, although new plans should be issued within 20 weeks, reviewed annually and amended within a month when required.
- The responsible partnership accepts the report and must now produce an action plan, while Ofsted plans a monitoring visit in about 18 months and a full reinspection within three years.
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