Local Area SEND inspection 2023
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) notified Rachael Wardell, Executive Director of Childrens, Families and Lifelong Learning (CFLL) that they will start Surrey's Local area SEND inspection on Monday 11 September.
The inspection, that will last for three weeks, will look at education, health and care services for children with additional needs and disabilities (otherwise known as SEND) in Surrey, to assess their experiences and outcomes.
Colleagues from CFLL work together with health and education partners across the county as 'Surrey's Additional Needs and Disabilities Partnership' to deliver services for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.
The Local Offer website has further information and resources explaining the inspection process.
Previous inspections
Surrey's Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) services were last inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2016. The outcome of the inspection is available in the published findings letter.
Following our consultation in January 2019, we published our SEND Strategy 2019 to 2022. This sets out our ambition to improve long-term outcomes for children and young people. This is in line with Surrey's Community Vision 2030.
The wider strategy ambitions are set out as follows:
- Children should have access to the right support to reach their potential.
- With help and support, most children should be able to attend their local mainstream school.
- Children should be able to live at home with their family.
- Children and families should receive a consistent good quality service.
- Use of funding will consider the long-term needs of children and young people.
The programme has four key areas of focus:
- Increasing the number of children able to thrive in a mainstream or specialist school. This should be closer to home along with their peers and siblings.
- Ensuring that there are enough suitable places for children with SEND within the county.
- Supporting post 16 children in preparing for adulthood. Focusing on educational pathways and support for independence.
- Ensuring all partners across the local area, are working effectively together.