A three-week review of special educational needs and disabilities support across Kent has wrapped up – but the published findings could still be weeks away, with the summer holidays likely to slow things down further.
Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Kent are waiting to find out what Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found when they reviewed local support services. The inspection ran for three weeks after Kent County Council (KCC) and its partners were notified on 22 June. It’s finished. But the written report hasn’t been published yet, and KCC says it has asked Ofsted for clarification on when to expect it.
Inspectors from Ofsted and the CQC were based at Sessions House in Maidstone from 6 to 10 July for face-to-face meetings, spending the wider three-week period gathering evidence through confidential surveys, case studies, documents and conversations. The central question was straightforward enough: what is it actually like to be a child or young person with SEND in Kent, trying to get support?
The inspection drew in voices from right across the county. Parents, carers, children and young people shared personal experiences through surveys and direct conversations with inspectors. School and college staff – including SENCOs, the teachers responsible for co-ordinating support for pupils with additional needs – took part alongside health professionals, social care staff, and KCC and NHS leaders. Partner organisations and local groups contributed too.
Inspectors looked in detail at a high number of individual cases to understand whether services are working together and actually helping children reach positive outcomes. All of that evidence – surveys, meetings, case studies, documents – will now be reviewed before Ofsted and the CQC publish their findings.
The report will set out what’s working well in Kent, where improvements are still needed, and any next steps for local services. And with the school holidays now under way, KCC has flagged that the report may take longer than usual to appear. Which, given the circumstances, is probably the least surprising news of the summer.
KCC thanked everyone who took part, saying it is especially grateful to the children, young people, parents and carers who shared personal experiences with inspectors.
The council says it will share the outcome and key findings as soon as the report is published, and will update families and professionals once it has more information on timing from Ofsted.
Kent SEND inspection ends – families now wait for Ofsted and CQC report Quiz
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