NHS England and the Department for Education should provide local area partnerships with access to resources and training so they can support schools to take a needs-led approach to supporting children with SEND, according to a new report.
The Ofsted and CQC report finds support for children with SEND who do not attend school full-time is inconsistent with health partners are often absent from information sharing arrangements.
Professor Bola Owolabi, chief inspector of primary care and community services at the Care Quality Commission said: ‘Well-coordinated support – where colleagues across education, health and social care work together – can make all the difference to ensuring children and young people with SEND have their educational needs met and in the right place.
‘We have seen this done well, with innovative approaches to collaboration and support for children and young people who require these services. However, as highlighted in this report, barriers still remain which inhibit a joined-up approach, and inconsistencies from area to area meaning some children and young people with SEND are missing out on their education.
‘The recommendations laid out in this report should help remove these barriers to education and empower the sector to take forward a partnership approach between health, social care, and education partners.'
Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.
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