Jo Fisher, Chair of the ADCS Standards, Performance & Inspection Policy Committee said:

“Over time the inspection grade profile of children’s social care has improved, with significantly more councils rated as good or better under the current Ofsted framework than the previous one. This is in no small part due to the commitment and dedication of our councils and our staff to children and their outcomes. However, where children’s services are struggling there are often wider corporate and political issues at play.

“The picture is much more complicated in relation to services and support for children and young people with SEND. The fact that almost every council in the country is subject to the Safety Valve or Delivering Better Value programmes or are in intervention following an inspection highlights the significant and growing pressure in the system, with the unavoidable truth that funding is at the forefront of many of these challenges. Overspends in the high needs block are expected to exceed £3.5 billion by 2025 and threaten the financial viability of many councils. We lack the levers to make schools more inclusive or to update home to school transport duties rooted in legislation developed 80 years ago. The government has recognised there are big challenges here via its national SEND review and subsequent green paper but the planned changes do not go far enough and are not happening fast enough.”

ENDS