Derby City Council and Derby and NHS Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (DDCCG) have announced plans to improve services in the city for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our plan is in response to the Ofsted and CQC Local Area SEND inspection that took place in June 2019. Findings of the Inspection were published in August 2019 and identified areas of strength and areas of weakness.
Our Local Area Written Statement of Action (WSOA) has been developed by speaking to, and working with, parents and carers to ensure children, young people and their families are at the heart of everything we do to secure the best possible outcomes, reach their potential and thrive into adulthood.
This involved a range of engagement and feedback events with parents, carers, front line staff and all partners to discuss areas that need improvement and actions to improve our Local Area SEND arrangements
Changes have already been delivered including, Parents Carers Together are now a key member of our Local Area SEND Board, representing views of Parents and Carers in Derby and participating in decision making.
Andy Smith, Strategic Director of People Services at Derby City Council and Dr. Chris Clayton, Chief Executive Officer, at NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:
Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are central to our commitment to improve our SEND services in Derby. We want to do as much as possible to ensure children and young people are happy, healthy and feel equipped to reach their potential and thrive into adulthood. We recognise that there is need for improvement and that we will only achieve this by working together and listening to children, parents, and carers to ensure they feel engaged in our SEND improvement journey. We want to thank everyone who contributed to the inspection and in informing the development of our Written Statement of Action.
Ofsted and the CQC inspectors will revisit Derby within 18 months to assess the improvements made against the key areas identified.
For more information on Derby city’s SEND Local Offer please visit the website, or visit the SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) website or Facebook page for further details.