Following the Ofsted and CQC report on SEND services in East Sussex, ESPCF today publishes the feedback report it submitted during the inspection process. The report brings together the key themes and issues raised by parent carers across all of ESPCF’s work.
Click here to read the report: ESPCF report on parent carer experiences (PDF)
We appreciate that the report is over 50 pages long, but it is divided into topics, so please do take a look at the parts of relevance or interest to you. It provides a powerful insight into what SEND families in East Sussex are telling us are their everyday realities.
We have already published an initial joint response to the Ofsted report with East Sussex County Council and NHS Sussex. Now that the ESPCF steering group has met to consider and discuss the findings in more detail, we wanted to share some further thoughts.
ESPCF statement
ESPCF welcomes that Ofsted and the CQC have recognised the inconsistent experiences of SEND families in East Sussex. We also feel it is testament to how well we know our communities that many of the report findings mirror the experiences regularly shared with us by parent carers.
The system
As outlined in the ESPCF feedback report, one of the most common concerns we hear from parent carers is about battling the system, including the difficulty in accessing support and information, and the complexity of the system. Parent carers describe the exhausting and ongoing battles they face, which are not short-lived. This has been the reality for far too long, so it is encouraging that the Ofsted report recognises this issue, saying that many families report that “the system as a whole can be confusing and difficult to navigate”. Changes to how families get information and support should be a priority for all local partners. It is vital that families are fully involved at the centre of any work about this to help make sure that any possible changes will actually help to improve experiences.
SEND support in mainstream schools
Another key issue is the lack of adequate support for children and young people with SEND in mainstream schools. This is also picked up in the Ofsted report: “The local partnership recognises that children and young people with SEND have mixed experiences of inclusion in mainstream schools” – as also described in our feedback report. While there are initiatives already underway such as Autism in Schools and the PINS project (Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools), more work is needed, particularly in relation to training for school staff, clearer pathways for mental health support, and behaviour policies which are flexible and include greater consideration of reasonable adjustments.
EHCP processes
EHCP (education, health, and care plan) processes are another major concern for families and are another area we consider is a priority for action. As before, parent carers highlight a complex system to navigate, which is often long and overwhelming, with frequent examples of poor communication, inaccessible information, and a lack of transparency. The Ofsted report notes that “for many families securing an EHCP in East Sussex has not been a positive experience”, with the process described as “lengthy and adversarial”. Again, we hope that there will be renewed efforts to drastically improve the experiences for families, and we reiterate the importance of families being at the centre of developing any changes.
Good practice
While the Ofsted report highlights the challenges, it also acknowledges where good practice exists and where efforts are being made to improve things. We know there are professionals out there working hard to make a difference – and that shouldn’t go unrecognised. It is really important we keep hearing about what is working well to try to make sure good practice can be built on, and that any changes don’t lose the good work along the way.
Working with parent carers
We are also pleased that the Ofsted report recognises ESPCF’s ongoing efforts to be more meaningfully involved in decision-making. While we are involved in a range of work and strategic meetings, there remains inconsistency in how we are engaged as equal partners.
It is positive to see the local partnership’s commitment acknowledged, and there is joint understanding with ESPCF recognising that we are on a journey toward deeper co-production and genuine joint working. As ever, what truly matters is turning that commitment into real, lasting action, ensuring families are at the centre of improvements.
What happens now?
An implementation plan is being put together by East Sussex County Council and NHS Sussex setting out how improvements will be made. We’ll share details as soon as we can. We have already stressed the importance of focusing on the real positive impact for children and young people. In the meantime, we’ll continue to work hard to represent the collective voice of SEND families, making sure your experiences shape the changes that need to happen.
A huge thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and supported the forum – your voices matter, and we will keep pushing for the changes SEND families need and deserve.