Partnership welcomes SEND report and outlines next steps for ongoing improvement

The Redbridge Local Area Partnership accepts the findings of a recent Ofsted and CQC inspection into its special educational needs and disability (SEND) services, following a joint area inspection in Redbridge in May 2025. The partnership recognises that real culture change and transformation are needed over the next 18 months and all partners are committed to delivering improved services across the SEND system.

The report outlined a number of areas where improvement is needed, whilst acknowledging the recent progress to improve SEND provision.

Many areas highlighted in the report have already been prioritised and are being actioned within the partnership’s SEND improvement plan. Crucially, the report stated that “recent changes in senior leadership across the local area partnership have brought renewed ambition to strengthen the SEND system in Redbridge”, providing reassurance that the partnership is heading in the right direction.

Areas for improvement identified in the report:

The inspection identified areas where services are not yet meeting expectations, particularly in terms of consistency and coordination. These challenges are significant and align closely with the existing local SEND improvement plan, which is now being refined and accelerated in response to the inspection.

• Multi-agency working requires strengthening to improve coordination and reduce delays.
• Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are not consistently completed or reviewed in a timely manner.
• Families continue to experience confusion about how to access key services such as therapies.
• Waits for assessment and diagnosis, particularly for neurodevelopmental needs, remain too long.
• Transition planning for adulthood does not consistently promote independence.
• There is insufficient oversight of children and young people who are out of school or on reduced timetables.
• Access to alternative provision and short breaks is inconsistent, and planning for specialist places requires a more strategic approach.
• Data systems and communication mechanisms require improvement to support effective decision-making.

Strengths identified by the inspection:

The report also highlights several positive areas that provide a strong foundation for improvement:

• The early years SEND team offers timely and responsive support to families.
• Advisory and training services promote inclusive practice across schools and early years settings.
• Multi-agency working is effective in some areas, such as within pupil referral units (PRUs).
• Innovative outreach models, including inclusion health visitors and EOTAS nurses, are improving access for underrepresented groups.
• Practitioners across education, health and social care demonstrate high levels of commitment to supporting children and young people with SEND.
• Inspectors noted the “renewed ambition” from senior leaders and a strong foundation for improvement work already underway.

Next steps and priority areas:

As part of the formal process, the partnership will now submit a Priority Action Plan, which will focus on:

• Improving how services share information, track progress and use data to make decisions.
• Making sure children, young people and families are properly involved in shaping the support they receive.
• Putting clear, joined-up plans in place to support young people from age 14, with a focus on life skills and independence.
• Making better plans across services to meet local needs and updating our understanding of what families need most.
• Making EHC plans better, quicker, and more accurate, with input from all the professionals involved.
• Cutting waiting times and making it easier to get the therapies and assessments children need.

These actions are already embedded in the wider SEND improvement programme and will be monitored by the Department for Education and NHS England.

About the local area partnership:

The Redbridge local area partnership includes the London Borough of Redbridge, the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB), local education providers, health and social care services, and other key stakeholders.