Shropshire Re-Inspection Visit November 2022
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION - BACKGROUND
All Local Areas in England are jointly inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQQ) to monitor the implementation of the SEND reforms and the delivery of positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The inspection team focus on the following key areas:
• How effectively the local area identifies children and young people who have SEND.
• How effectively the local area meets the needs and improves the outcomes of children and young people with SEND.
• The effectiveness of the local area on improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND (0 to 25).
Inspectors evaluate how education, health and social care services work together in the best interests of children and young people; how services work together to support transition to adulthood and how effectively the local area considers the views of children and young people who have SEND and their families in planning provision.
The key findings of the Shropshire SEND Inspection are below. Following the inspection Shropshire created a plan called the ‘Written Statement of Action’ to respond to these findings. Progress in these areas will be the focus of the re-inspection.
Findings of the 2020 SEND Inspections - Significant Areas of Weakness in Shropshire
There are several ways in which children, young people and parent carers can engage with the re-visit process and contribute their views.
The inspectors will gather the contributions of parents and carers through an online survey and a range of other methods. Opportunities to speak in person and online with the Inspection Team will also be offered.
Parents and carers who would like to take part in the reinspection survey can follow this internet link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ShropshireCouncilRe-VisitLASEND/
The survey will open at 12 noon on Monday 14 November and close at 12 noon on Friday 18 November 2022.
Parents carers can also email their contributions to Lasend.support@ofsted.gov.uk
Parents and carers can contact their local Parent Carer Forum to find out more about how they can contribute their views during the local area re-visit. Email PACC on enquiries@paccshropshire.org.uk There will be two open meetings supported by Shropshire PACC where parent carers can meet with Inspectors
A Virtual meeting is proposed to take place on Monday 21st November 7pm – 8pm (meeting link will be sent out on booking) but is yet to be confirmed
An in person meeting is proposed to take place on Tuesday 22nd November 10am – 11am (likely to be in Shirehall, Shrewsbury) but is yet to be confirmed
SHROPSHIRE SEND REINSPECTION – WHAT DO THE INSPECTORS WANT TO KNOW?
The re inspection will look at what progress has been made in the last two years. The inspectors will focus on the areas of significant weakness identified in the initial inspection
The re-visit will evaluate how effectively leaders have addressed these areas of significant weaknesses detailed in the written statement of action (WSOA). The re-visit will be carried out in line with updated guidance about the return to Area SEND inspection, you can read this guidance below https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-area-send-inspection-guidance-for-inspectors
During the re-visit, Ofsted and CQC inspectors will be keen to speak to as many children and young people and their parents and carers as possible, specifically about the weaknesses identified in the Shropshire Written Statement Of Action.
SEND RE-INSPECTION AREA OF SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESS – EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CARE PLANS
In 2020 the Inspectors stated that they found ‘inconsistency in the quality of input from education, health and care into EHC assessment and planning’
The final inspection report in 2020 highlighted the following;
“The area met the requirement to convert statements to education, health and care (EHC) plans within statutory timescales. However, there are inconsistencies in the quality of input from education, health and care into the plans. This is particularly so for those plans written before January 2019.”
“Area leaders and the SEND team have acted to improve the quality of EHC plans. Some plans contain good-quality input from education, health and care professionals. However, there is inconsistency is some sections of the EHC plans. For example, EHC plans do not always clearly explain the specific actions that need to be taken to help meet the child or young person’s needs. This is particularly so for the actions relating to health needs. Leaders within the therapy services have recently developed a template to improve the clarity and consistency of the advice given. However, it is too soon to see the impact of these actions.”
“EHC plans written prior to January 2019 are weak regarding the information provided in the wider outcomes section. In addition, not all plans for children looked after by the local authority contain input from children’s social care. This includes plans written prior to, and since, January 2019”
“Many EHC plans are not updated in a timely way following an annual review. This may mean that a child or young person’s needs are not being met well. For example, sometimes students begin college with an EHC plan that is years out of date.”
When providing feedback for the re-visit you might like to consider the questions below.
• Has the quality of Shropshire EHCP’s improved over the last two years?
• Is the support required to meet a child’s needs clearly outlined now in Shropshire EHCPs ?
• Are health needs now captured clearly in Shropshire EHCPs and is the appropriate support for that health need now clearly explained?
• Is social care input now capture clearly in Shropshire EHCP’s?
• Are Shropshire EHCPs now being updated in a timely way after annual reviews?
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION – WHAT WILL PACC SAY ABOUT EHCPS
The information below captures the key themes about the quality of Shropshire EHCP’s captured in the feedback for the ‘State of SEND Report – Shropshire Update 2022’
Timescales - Feedback raised concerns that statutory timescales were not being met, in particular in relation to Annual Reviews. Examples were given where this had a particularly negative impact on preparation for adulthood.
Support - Parent carers told us that they would like more support through the EHCP process and that EHCPs too often don’t translate into positive support in schools.
Barriers - Parent carers often found the EHCP process in Shropshire complicated, unclear and stressful. Many stated that they had repeatedly been told by their child’s school not to apply for an EHCP because they wouldn’t be successful.
Quality - Concerns were raised about EHCPs not fully reflecting a child’s needs and being too academically focused . There were particular concerns that Shropshire EHCPs are not effectively preparing young people for adulthood, with an insufficient focus on basic health care and developing social skills.
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION AREA OF SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESS – NEURODEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT
In 2020 the Inspectors stated that they found ‘Significant waiting times for large numbers of children and young people on the ASD and ADHD diagnostic pathways’
The final inspection report in 2020 highlighted the following;
“There is no effective pathway for specialist assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for children over the age of five. Recently, leaders have taken effective action to ensure that some children are assessed. However, there remains a large number of children waiting for assessment. A sustainable assessment model to address this ongoing problem has not been implemented.”
“Children and young people over five years old wait too long for a specialist assessment for ASD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Area leaders do not have a robust plan to address this. As a result, many children experience significant waits and are not having their needs met within an acceptable timeframe.”
“There is a lack of clarity for professionals and parents about the criteria and referral routes for ASD assessment for a child aged over five years old. Professionals reported confusion about who can make a referral for a child and whether referrals are currently being accepted or not. This does not assist in easing parents’ worries.”
When providing feedback for the re-visit you might like to consider the questions on the slide below.
• Have waiting times for ASD and ADHD assessments in Shropshire improved?
• Are the needs of children and young people in Shropshire who are autistic and have ADHD, now being met in an acceptable timeframe?
• Is there clear information available about the criteria and referral routes for ASD assessments for children over the age of 5?
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION – WHAT WILL PACC SAY ABOUT NEURODEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
The slide below captures the key themes about the quality of Neurodevelopmental assessments captured in the feedback for the ‘State of SEND Report – Shropshire Update 2022’
Timescales - Parent Carers repeatedly highlight the excessive wait times for assessment and support.
Communication - Poor communication and transparency about timescales, criteria and the assessment process is a key theme in feedback from families
Lack of Support - Families are waiting for long periods of time without any additional support and there is a lack of post diagnostic support
Impact on mental health - Long waits and the lack of support is causing the mental health of CYP and their families to deteriorate and increasing the numbers of families reaching crisis point
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION AREA OF SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESS – SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY PROVISION
In 2020 the Inspectors stated that they found ‘Significant waiting times for those needing assessment and treatment from the speech and language therapy service’
The final inspection report in 2020 highlighted the following;
“Children and young people experience significant waits for speech and language assessment and treatment. The current speech and language therapy (SALT) service specification is not fit for purpose. Consequently, the SALT service is not meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND in the area.”
“Children and young people with SEND wait too long to have their needs assessed and met by SALT services. There are a significant number of children and young people who have waited over 18 weeks for assessment. Leaders have put in place a recovery plan to address this, but any sustained effect of these actions is yet to be seen.”
“Leaders across the area have failed to secure appropriate support for the local special school from specialist practitioners to ensure that staff are confident and competent in supporting the health and care needs of their pupils. As a result, therapy and special school nursing services are spending increasing amounts of time developing the knowledge and expertise of school staff. This reduces the time available to provide direct support for children and young people.”
When providing feedback for the re-visit you might like to consider the questions on the slide below.
• Is the Shropshire SALT service now meeting the needs of children and young people in the area?
• Has the waiting time for SALT support reduced?
• Has the amount of direct SALT support provided to CYP at Severndale Specialist School increased?
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION – WHAT WILL PACC SAY ABOUT SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY PROVISION
The slide below captures the key themes about the quality of Speech & Language Therapy Provision captured in the feedback for the ‘State of SEND Report – Shropshire Update 2022’
Inappropriate discharge - Some families felt that they were discharged when they still needed help
Support - The was some positive feedback about the quality of support but many families felt that they had received insufficient support and more direct SALT support was needed. Where some support was provided parent carers often felt it was not provided frequently enough.
Waiting times - Excessive waiting times were highlighted which result in missed development opportunities
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION AREA OF SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESS – SCHOOL SUPPORT & INCLUSION
In 2020 the Inspectors stated that they found ‘The high rate of exclusions for children and young people with an EHC plan and the high rate of repeat fixed-term exclusions for those receiving SEND support.’
“The rates of exclusion for children and young people with an EHC plan in primary, secondary and special schools are significantly above the national averages. In addition, the rates of repeat fixed-term exclusion for children and young people receiving SEND support significantly increased in 2018/19”
“Permanent exclusions for children and young people with SEND are significantly above the national figures. The number of repeat fixed-term exclusions for children and young people who receive SEND support is also increasing over time. Fixed-term exclusions for children and young people with an EHC plan in primary, secondary and special schools are significantly above the national figure.”
When providing feedback for the re-visit you might like to consider the questions on the slide below.
• Has your child been excluded or experienced a fixed term inclusion during the last two years?
• Did you feel it was appropriate?
• How would you describe the process?
SHROPSHIRE SEND RE-INSPECTION – WHAT WILL PACC SAY ABOUT SCHOOL SUPPORT & INCLUSION
The slide below captures the key themes about the quality of Speech & Language Therapy Provision captured in the feedback for the ‘State of SEND Report – Shropshire Update 2022’
Support - This was the area where feedback suggest the greatest variation in experience, highlighting how the quality of support and level of inclusion is dependent on individual school culture. In some cases, poor experiences of school-based support was felt to be because of the difficulties schools faced in accessing support from other agencies
Training - Responses highlighted a perceived lack of training for school staff resulting in a poor or inconsistent understanding of SEND.