Progress has been made by all partners working to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Kingston, according to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors visited the borough between 4 and 6 October 2022 in a follow up to the area's last inspection in November 2018. They spoke to children and young people with SEND, parents and carers, representatives from Kingston's parent carer forum, the local authority and the NHS. 

Representatives found sufficient progress had been made in each of the four areas sited for improvement during the 2018 visit which included poor quality and monitoring of education, health and care (EHC), and a stronger level of communication required from leaders to ensure a productive and positive relationship between parents and parents representatives.

Inspectors during the 2022 visit highlighted leadership, positive and productive relationships with parents and carers, and significant improvements in the quality and monitoring of Education, Health and Care plans. Children and young people also said they found the annual reviews of these plans useful and felt their voices were heard. 

Addressing the current monitoring of education, health and care plans in Kingston, Sam Hainey, His Majesty's Inspector for Ofsted said: "The quality of EHC plans has improved since the initial inspection. Leaders have significantly transformed the training for staff and the quality assurance of EHC plans. This training initially focused on making outcomes and provision more specific and quantified.

"The coordinators who write the EHC plans feel that their training has helped them to be more confident in writing child-centred plans. As a result, the plans now better reflect the specific needs, aspirations and views of children and young people, parents and carers."

Responding to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission's findings, Chair of the SEND Partnership Board and Chief Executive of Kingston Council Ian Thomas CBE, said: "This is a fantastic achievement. Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspectors found that despite the pandemic, we have made sufficient progress in all areas identified for improvement in supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

"I'm incredibly proud of the hard work many at Kingston Council, Achieving for Children and South West London NHS have put in, we will continue to strive to deliver the very best for our children and families."

The full report can be accessed via the Ofsted website HERE