New report highlights progress in Derbyshire SEND services

A partnership between Derbyshire County Council and the NHS is continuing to strengthen its SEND services, according to a new report. 

The ‘Derbyshire Local Area Partnership’ – made up of Derbyshire County Council and the NHS Derby & Derbyshire Integrated Care Board – has made progress over the past six months and is committed to ongoing improvements in education, health and care services. 

The findings come after the Department for Education and NHS England carried out a “stocktake” review of the partnership, which is responsible for planning, delivering and commissioning services for children and young people with SEND across the county. 

The review looked at how the partnership has been addressing issues raised during a joint inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in September 2024. That inspection identified several areas needing improvement, including delays in education and health assessments, children missing school and poor communication with families. 

Following the 12-month progress review, the Department for Education and NHS England said there was a “good sense of a strengthening partnership” and a clear commitment among leaders to continue improving services. 

The report highlights a shared ambition among partners to better understand the experiences of children and families and a clear commitment to improving outcomes across SEND services. 

Work is currently under way on a priority impact plan which is already showing results. This includes ensuring children and young people have opportunities to share their views when decisions are made locally and regionally. 

The report also notes the partnership is working closely with Derbyshire Parent Carer Voice – a charity representing parents and carers of children with SEND – which says it feels listened to and is building trust with leaders. 

However, the report adds that partners must continue to focus on ensuring improvements are clearly felt by children, young people and their families, and that activities remain meaningful and transparent. 

Alison Noble, Derbyshire County Council’s temporary Executive Director for Children’s Services, said: 

“We welcome the Department for Education’s report which highlights our continued commitment to working together to improve SEND services for all children across Derbyshire. 

“We know there is always more to do and we continue to work hard with our health, education, private, public and voluntary sector partners to offer a service these children deserve. 

“The latest stocktake has recognised the multi-million-pound investment we’ve made in employing more specialist staff, improving efficiency around assessments and creating more special needs school places and that these changes are starting to show positive improvements. 

“In Derbyshire, as nationally, there’s been a significant increase in demand for SEND support but despite this we want every child in Derbyshire to have the best possible start in life, whatever their ability.” 

Rosa Waddingham, Executive Director of Quality (Nursing) for NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board, added: 

“We are pleased the progress we have made together over the past year has been recognised. 

“The research and engagement we have done means we now have a greatly improved understanding of the health needs of children and young people in Derbyshire. 

“That enables us to commission services to meet those needs better now and in the future. 

“We have also made immediate progress by investing in children and young people’s mental health services and in supporting schools to be more inclusive of neurodiverse children, so they can get the support they need at the earliest opportunity.”