In September 2024, a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Area Partnership inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission took place which highlighted significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND in Derbyshire.
The inspection findings identified widespread, systemic failings in services in Derbyshire and highlighted challenges to the partnership that have been consistently expressed by parents and carers, and their children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The Partnership has apologised for these failings and is committed to addressing all the areas identified in the inspection report and has established a SEND Improvement and Assurance Board, with an independent Chair, and produced a Priority Impact Plan (available in the related document section of this page) which has been approved by Ofsted.
The Priority Impact Plan establishes the work the Partnership will undertake over the next eighteen months, and will be overseen by the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board with periodic stock-takes undertaken by Ofsted ahead of a further inspection at the end of the eighteen-month period.