Local Area SEND Inspection Report
In July 2021, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), carried out a joint inspection of the local area of Warwickshire to judge the effectiveness of the area in implementing the disability and special educational needs reforms as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
The inspection was led by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors from Ofsted, with a team of inspectors including one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and a children's services inspector from the Care Quality Commission. As part of the inspection the team spoke with children and young people with SEND, parents and carers, health, key partners and local authority officers. They also visited a range of providers and spoke to leaders, staff and governors about how they were implementing the disability and special educational needs reforms as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
The main findings of the report are:
- Children and young people with SEND achieve positive educational outcomes. A high proportion of them remain in education, training and employment and a high proportion also go on to achieve paid employment. Attendance rates for children and young people with SEND are very positive, and fixed term exclusions have reduced dramatically.
- Area leaders understand the strengths and weaknesses of the area because of their accurate, well-informed and detailed self-evaluation. They commissioned two independent reviews of all SEND services to help them identify what works well and what does not across the local area. Leaders have developed and started to implement an ambitious Change Programme in response to the findings of the reviews.
- The Change Programme identifies what needs to change and why. It has prioritised and focused on key areas, with further actions appropriately planned out in the right order. This is enabling area leaders to drive the necessary improvements across the local area. However, some plans are still developing, such as those to improve neurodevelopmental pathways.
- Current area leaders know that the area was slow to implement the 2014 reforms in full. Previous leadership groups had not worked closely enough together. Weaknesses in the past have led to poor outcomes for some children and young people, particularly those with ASD. Leaders are determined to address the weaknesses across the area and have started to do so.
A written statement of action (WSoA) has been co-produced with education, health, social care and Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice to demonstrate how the weaknesses raised will be addressed. This was published in January 2021, with delivery up to June 2023.
- View the Written Statement of Action (WSoA) V2 (PDF, 1.40 MB)
- Warwickshire’s Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 0 to 25 Years Self-Evaluation Document (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Latest
- Warwickshire SEND WSoA update February 2023 (PDF, 928 KB)
- School Exclusions - Video Guide for Parent Carers
- Interactive Training Slide Deck (PDF, 2,5 MB)
- Free Training to All Schools in Warwickshire (PDF, 612KB)
- Warwickshire Schools' Inclusion Charter (PDF, 796KB)
Previous updates on delivery of the WSoA
- Warwickshire SEND WSoA update November 2022 (PDF, 1MB)
- Warwickshire SEND WSoA update September 2022 (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Warwickshire SEND WSoA Update June 2022 (PDF, 1MB)
For more information and advice on services and support available as part of our ‘local offer’ please visit our Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) page.
You can also contact SENDIAS Warwickshire or Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice for information, advice and support.