Bexley - SEND Local Area Inspection (Ofsted and CQC) Nov 23
Improvement notice issued to London Borough of Bexley: May 2024
An improvement notice was issued to the London Borough of Bexley following an Ofsted and CQC inspection in February 2024.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/improvement-notice-issued-to-london-borough-of-bexley-may-2024
The London Borough of Bexley and the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board have published the SEND local area partnership priority action plan.
Department for Education/Ofsted approval for SEND Improvement Plan | London Borough of Bexley
An improvement notice was issued to the London Borough of Bexley following an Ofsted and CQC inspection in February 2024.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/improvement-notice-issued-to-london-borough-of-bexley-may-2024
The London Borough of Bexley and the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board have published the SEND local area partnership priority action plan.
Department for Education/Ofsted approval for SEND Improvement Plan | London Borough of Bexley
Statement from Bexley Voice on The Bexley SEND Local Area Inspection (Ofsted & CQC)
As the independent Parent Carer Forum representing Bexley families, we provided feedback as part of the inspection process sharing parent/carer views of their SEND experience in Bexley across Education, Health and Social Care.
Following the publication of the recent Bexley SEND Local Area Inspection (Ofsted & CQC) report, we will continue to be the voice of parents and carers in Bexley as work is undertaken to address the areas of weakness highlighted within the report.
You can read the report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/303
As the independent Parent Carer Forum representing Bexley families, we provided feedback as part of the inspection process sharing parent/carer views of their SEND experience in Bexley across Education, Health and Social Care.
Following the publication of the recent Bexley SEND Local Area Inspection (Ofsted & CQC) report, we will continue to be the voice of parents and carers in Bexley as work is undertaken to address the areas of weakness highlighted within the report.
You can read the report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/303
Statement from the Bexley Local Area Partnership February 2024
The Bexley Local Area Partnership is wholeheartedly committed to doing the best we can for children and young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the local area, and to help them to achieve the best possible outcomes. As such we were disappointed with the outcome of the recent inspection."
Some areas of our work received positive feedback from inspectors – such as the impact of our multi-agency early intervention team, services to our most vulnerable residents and the academic achievements of SEND pupils. We acknowledge the need to make improvements to ensure the partnership’s SEND services fully meet the needs of all our children and young people."
As a partnership, we had already identified some of the areas that the inspection highlighted, through self-evaluation and joint working, and commenced delivery on these."
The partnership has acted swiftly and is currently developing an action plan to address the remaining issues highlighted by inspectors. This includes listening to the voices of children and young people when designing and providing relevant support services, and recognising the need to work as an integrated partnership to guarantee consistent access to therapeutic services to meet their needs."
We will endeavour to continually improve and provide the highest quality of care to those who access our SEND support services."
The Bexley Local Area Partnership comprises a range of organisations, with the London Borough of Bexley and South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) responsible for planning and commissioning relevant services.
Inspection dates: 4 December 2023 to 8 December 2023
Inspection report published: 23rd February 2024
Read the Area SEND Inspection report of the Bexley Local Area Partnership on the Ofsted website.
The Bexley Local Area Partnership is wholeheartedly committed to doing the best we can for children and young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the local area, and to help them to achieve the best possible outcomes. As such we were disappointed with the outcome of the recent inspection."
Some areas of our work received positive feedback from inspectors – such as the impact of our multi-agency early intervention team, services to our most vulnerable residents and the academic achievements of SEND pupils. We acknowledge the need to make improvements to ensure the partnership’s SEND services fully meet the needs of all our children and young people."
As a partnership, we had already identified some of the areas that the inspection highlighted, through self-evaluation and joint working, and commenced delivery on these."
The partnership has acted swiftly and is currently developing an action plan to address the remaining issues highlighted by inspectors. This includes listening to the voices of children and young people when designing and providing relevant support services, and recognising the need to work as an integrated partnership to guarantee consistent access to therapeutic services to meet their needs."
We will endeavour to continually improve and provide the highest quality of care to those who access our SEND support services."
The Bexley Local Area Partnership comprises a range of organisations, with the London Borough of Bexley and South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) responsible for planning and commissioning relevant services.
Inspection dates: 4 December 2023 to 8 December 2023
Inspection report published: 23rd February 2024
Read the Area SEND Inspection report of the Bexley Local Area Partnership on the Ofsted website.
Information shared during the inspection:
On 20th November 2023, Bexley received formal notification that the Local Area Partnership SEND Inspection will commence.
- Surveys will be live for parents, carers, children, young people and practitioners to complete from 20th - 28th November.
- The survey will close at 9am on 28th November 2023.
- Fieldwork takes place from the 30th of November.
- Inspectors will be on site from the 4th - 8th of December.
The links to take part in the survey are as follows:
Parents/Carers
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-ParentCarer/10284391
Download the parent/carer letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Children and Young People
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-CYP/10284391
Download the children & young people letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Practitioners
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-Practitioner/10284391
Download the practitioners letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Parents/Carers
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-ParentCarer/10284391
Download the parent/carer letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Children and Young People
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-CYP/10284391
Download the children & young people letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Practitioners
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-Practitioner/10284391
Download the practitioners letter from CQC & Ofsted here
Your views are important. They will help inspectors understand your experience of SEND arrangements in your area.
The survey is available online and paper copies can be requested.
The survey is created and designed by the Ofsted/CQC inspectors.
If you have difficulties using this survey, please email: [email protected]
If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please email: [email protected]
The survey is available online and paper copies can be requested.
The survey is created and designed by the Ofsted/CQC inspectors.
If you have difficulties using this survey, please email: [email protected]
If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please email: [email protected]
What is a Local Area SEND Inspection?
Information provided by Ofsted:
Ofsted looks at nurseries, schools and colleges to make sure that children and young people are taught as well as possible. We also look at children’s social care.
We also work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). CQC checks the quality of health and social care services in England, like hospitals and care homes.
Together we look at services in local areas that support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
This is called a SEND Local Area SEND Inspection.
The SEND Local Area inspection helps ensure local services are supporting children and young people with SEND to learn and grow. The inspections are carried out in line with the area SEND inspection framework and handbook.
From January 2023, all local area partnerships will receive an inspection under the new area SEND framework. The area SEND inspections under the new framework will follow a continuous cycle of inspections. Local area partnerships are inspected at least once every 5 years.
You can read reports from previous SEND Local Area Inspections and other Children's services inspections on the Ofsted website, including the October 2016 Bexley SEND Local Area inspection report and the February 2023 Bexley Children's Services Inspection ILAC report.
Information provided by Ofsted:
Ofsted looks at nurseries, schools and colleges to make sure that children and young people are taught as well as possible. We also look at children’s social care.
We also work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). CQC checks the quality of health and social care services in England, like hospitals and care homes.
Together we look at services in local areas that support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
This is called a SEND Local Area SEND Inspection.
The SEND Local Area inspection helps ensure local services are supporting children and young people with SEND to learn and grow. The inspections are carried out in line with the area SEND inspection framework and handbook.
From January 2023, all local area partnerships will receive an inspection under the new area SEND framework. The area SEND inspections under the new framework will follow a continuous cycle of inspections. Local area partnerships are inspected at least once every 5 years.
You can read reports from previous SEND Local Area Inspections and other Children's services inspections on the Ofsted website, including the October 2016 Bexley SEND Local Area inspection report and the February 2023 Bexley Children's Services Inspection ILAC report.
Information provided by Ofsted:
Why do we look at services?
When we look at services that support children and young people with SEND in a local area, we call it an area SEND inspection. This is a joint inspection by Ofsted and CQC.
Area SEND inspections also include looking at services for children and young people who live in the local area, but go to school or get care in other local areas.
We look at different kinds of services that support children and young people with SEND. These services include:
What happens during an inspection?
Inspectors from Ofsted and CQC will visit your local area. Inspectors are people who will do the inspection.
Inspectors will talk about local services with children and young people with SEND, and their families.
Inspectors will talk to your local parent carer forum (PCF). They may meet with other family groups.
A PCF is a group of parents who have children with SEND. They meet to support each other and share information about how to best help children and young people with SEND. In Bexley, the PCF is known as 'Bexley Voice'.
When we do an inspection we look at:
We will write a report about what we have found out from the inspection. The report will include:
Why do we look at services?
When we look at services that support children and young people with SEND in a local area, we call it an area SEND inspection. This is a joint inspection by Ofsted and CQC.
Area SEND inspections also include looking at services for children and young people who live in the local area, but go to school or get care in other local areas.
We look at different kinds of services that support children and young people with SEND. These services include:
- Education services, like schools and colleges
- Health services
- Care services
What happens during an inspection?
Inspectors from Ofsted and CQC will visit your local area. Inspectors are people who will do the inspection.
Inspectors will talk about local services with children and young people with SEND, and their families.
Inspectors will talk to your local parent carer forum (PCF). They may meet with other family groups.
A PCF is a group of parents who have children with SEND. They meet to support each other and share information about how to best help children and young people with SEND. In Bexley, the PCF is known as 'Bexley Voice'.
When we do an inspection we look at:
- How well the local area provides services for children and young people with SEND.
- How well local services work together to make life better for children and young people with SEND.
- Information about services for children and young people with SEND in the local area.
- Information we collect by visiting services for children and young people with SEND.
We will write a report about what we have found out from the inspection. The report will include:
- What services are doing well.
- What services need to do to improve, and how they can do this.
For further information, including easy read guides and YouTube videos explaining the process, please click on the link to The Bexley Local Offer page.
