THERE are widespread ‘systemic failings’ in Halton for children with SEND, an official report said.

Halton Borough Council and the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) have been slammed by Ofsted after an inspection revealed various failings in the processes made to assist SEND children across the borough.

The education watchdogs detailed in a recent report how ‘significant concerns’ need to be addressed ‘urgently’ by both authorities.

An inspection carried out in November was led by an Ofsted inspector with a team including an inspector of social care an Ofsted inspector from education, a lead children’s services inspector and a team children’s services inspector from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Childrens needs ‘escalate to crisis point’ before being assessed and their needs accurately identified, an inspector reported.

“Too many children and young people with SEND in Halton wait an unacceptable time to have their needs accurately identified and assessed,” they said.

“For example, children and young people wait too long to access a neurodevelopmental assessment. Most children and young people wait more than 18 months.

“Families experience ineffective communication while waiting. This causes significant frustration and results in a lack of trust in the system.”

It was also noted that one in five children in Halton do not receive their two-year developmental check – leading to a missed opportunity for emerging SEND to be identified.

Concerns were raised as to the timing of when children with SEND receive help from both authorities.

“Too many children and young people do not receive the right help at the right time. While some services, such as the early help team, integrated physiotherapy and occupational therapy and the specialist teaching teams, provide effective and valued support, there is a lack of capacity across the partnership,” the report said.

“Many practitioners work in isolation. This leads to an ineffective and inefficient coordination of support for children and young people with SEND from birth to 25.”

Parents and carers trust in the system is said to have been affected by the duplication of work and delays for children across health, social care and education.

Delays on EHC plans were highlighted too during the report, with inspectors stressing ‘too many barriers’ further hamper the process.

“Some parents, carers and professionals reported that the partnership requires them to provide two cycles of ‘assess, plan, do, review’, and educational psychology involvement, before an EHC plan needs assessment can be requested.”

Areas that require immediate action included for leaders at Halton council and the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB to improve together the ‘shared strategic oversight, governance, support and challenge to drive improvements to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND in Halton’.

Both bodies were also instructed to improve the ‘efficiency and quality’ of information gathering and sharing of the processes for children with SEND.

While also needing to urgently address the early identification of needs of a child and the pathways of support available while children are awaiting assessments.

Lastly the timelines of EHC plans were highlighted as a priority for action to be taken so children receive these plans in an effective and timely manner.

Highlighting what both bodies do effectively, the report said leaders are ‘committed to listening to young people, parents and carers’ and use their views to shape the service they provide.

And disabled children and young people benefit from the support of the transition team, it was said.

Meanwhile children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a well-supported transition to the adult ADHD service.

“Clubs and activities support children and young people with SEND to develop their interests and, in some cases, gain further qualifications,” an inspector said. “Children feel welcomed and supported to access a range of community-based activities.”

A monitoring inspection will take place by Ofsted within 18 months with a full reinspection expected to be carried out within approximately three years.

We fully accept the findings of the report and recognise that too many children and young people and adults (0-25) with special education need and/or disabilities and their families, have not received the support they have needed and deserved.

A spokesperson from Halton Borough Council: “We fully accept the findings of the report and recognise that too many children and young people and adults (0-25) with special education need and/or disabilities and their families, have not received the support they have needed and deserved.

“As a partnership we know that we must work much better together at pace, to put this right and I want to assure families in Halton that we are determined to do this. 

“Following a period of flux, children’s services leadership arrangements at the council are now stable.

“Since being appointed in October 2023, our director of children’s services, with her newly established permanent leadership team has worked to strengthen arrangements with our partners in NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.

“Together, they have been listening to the concerns and frustrations of families in Halton to identify key areas for development, action, and improvement.”

Halton council highlighted improvements already in the process of being made, including more children being assessed for an EHC plan and the expansion of resource-based provision for children with SEND. 

“Our new coproduction charter, created with our Parent Carer Forum, reflects our ambition to ensure opportunities for children, young people and families in Halton are inclusive and aspirational, shaped by all. 

“But we know there is more to do, and we will as a matter of urgency be setting out a detailed action plan with our partners that addresses all five priority action areas.  

“That is why we also need Government to step up and ensure that public services in Halton are properly funded to support children, young people with special education need and/or disability.”

Anthony Leo, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Place Director for Halton, added: “As a partnership, we understand the frustration felt by parents when seeking support for their child and fully accept the findings of the report, which demonstrates the uncertainty faced by children, young people and their families and clearly identifies the significant improvements that we need to make.

“While the report acknowledges that partners listen to children and young people, parents and carers and use their views to shape services, we know much more needs to be done.

"We’re committed to making improvements together with partners through a priority action plan as quickly as possible so that Halton’s children and young people have access to the high-quality services and support, they need and deserve.”