SEND services in Milton Keynes need improving

Services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Milton Keynes needs to be imrproved, according to Ofsted.

Ofsted published a report following a week-long inspection of SEND services, which are provided by Milton Keynes City Council and the NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board.

The inspectors also highlighted areas where the services were effective.

Joe Hearnshaw, the council's Labour cabinet member for children and young people, told the BBC: "We'll build on the strengths identified in the report".

"We’re committed to improving how children with SEND and their families receive the right support," he said.

The Ofsted inspection found "the local area partnership’s arrangements lead to inconsistent experiences and outcomes".

Among the five areas listed for improvement was a request for the group to "strengthen multi-agency working between education, health and social care" to ensure children's needs were met efficiently.

The report also said: "Leaders are ambitious for children and young people with SEND and act with a strong moral imperative."

Another suggested improvement was to ensure the local to area’s priorities are underpinned by robust commissioning plans, including the way that data is used to precisely identify emerging needs before gaps develop.