To receive update on Torbay Local Area Special Educational Needs (SEND) Joint Inspection Improvement Notice.

Key lines of enquiry:

·          To consider the action plan arising from the SEND Inspection Update carried out in March 2025.

·          To consider the impact of the review of home to school transport and how children with SEND are being supported to travel to and from school.

The Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Councillor Bye, Director of Children’s Services, Nancy Meehan, and Divisional Director of Education and SEND, Hannah Baker presented the report and highlighted progress made across the SEND improvement programme.  Members heard evidence of improved partnership working, increased co-production with families and measurable improvements in several key performance indicators.

The Board was advised that families were increasingly reporting positive experiences and improvements in services.  Significant progress had been made in reducing waiting times, improving EHCP timeliness and supporting children and young people into education, employment and training.

Members congratulated partners for all their hard work in making improvements to SEND.  They acknowledged there was still work to be done to improve parental confidence.  There had been huge changes in waiting lists which was really having a positive impact on the young people.

Members asked the following questions:

·                Were children seen within 18 weeks under the Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) Response Service (known as MERS) and how long was the wait for treatment after assessment?  (A written response to be provided on the period between a MERS appointment and commencement of treatment.)

·                How was the partnership capturing the experiences of parents and families alongside performance data?

·                What progress was being made in addressing neurodiversity waiting lists?

·                Were numbers of children being home educated reducing?

·                What opportunities were available to support young people with SEND into employment?

·                Were employers engaging with supported employment initiatives?

·                What were the barriers preventing young people from taking up employment opportunities?

·                How will speech and language improvements achieved in primary settings be replicated in secondary schools?  (A written response to be provided on plans to reduce speech and language pressures for secondary-aged pupils.)

·                What aspects of the locality model have schools found most beneficial?

The following responses were received:

·                All children referred to the MERS service were offered an appointment within 18 weeks and support was available while waiting.

·                Extensive engagement activity was taking place through SEND Family Voice and other participation events to gather views and shape future priorities.

·                Investment in specialist places, school-based support, training and intervention programmes was helping address growing neurodiversity demand.

·                Numbers of young people with EHCPs being home educated remain broadly static, although there were a range of complex reasons why families choose home education.

·                Supported internship pathways have been developed through schools, colleges and voluntary sector organisations to improve employment opportunities.

·                Engagement with employers continues through a SEND Employment Forum and partnership arrangements.

·                Key barriers include costs, availability of opportunities and the need for additional support around employment transitions.

·                Speech and language improvements were being supported through a linked therapist model and further training programmes for schools.

·                Schools have valued peer support, collaboration, shared learning and place-based approaches to addressing local need through the locality pilot.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Cabinet be recommended to:

1.             note the progress made by the SEND Local Area Partnership in delivering the Priority Impact Plan in response to the findings of the March 2025 Area SEND Inspection and subsequent Notice to Improve;

2.             be assured that effective governance, performance monitoring and risk management arrangements have been put in place to support and sustain SEND improvement across the partnership; and

3.             note the feedback and areas of focus identified through monitoring activity undertaken by the Department for Education and NHS England, including the March 2026 Stocktake and subsequent deep dive activity in July, and the partnership's actions in response.