Southampton City Council Under Scrutiny: Failing Our SEND Children

In May 2024, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission carried out a joint inspection of the Southampton Local Area Partnership, which includes Southampton City Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. The findings show a mixed picture: some strong support for children and young people with SEND, but also serious problems that need urgent attention.

On the positive side, early years services are working relatively well. Pre-school children with speech and language needs benefit from “chatter matters” drop-in sessions at family hubs, where therapists assess and advise at an early stage. There is good collaboration between education settings and therapists, especially in early years. Parents and carers also have solid support via organisations like the Parent Carer Forum, which helps shape services and improvements.

However, not all children are getting what they need. The report points to delays in accessing specialist settings and health or therapy services. Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are generally issued on time, but many are not precise enough or reviewed well enough. Key agencies often don’t work together as effectively as required, which means some children are left waiting too long or getting support that doesn’t match their needs.

Another concern is attendance and transitions. Children and young people with SEND are more likely than their peers to have higher rates of absence, especially in secondary schools. Transition (to adulthood or changing settings) is inconsistent and often comes too late, with some young people and families experiencing anxiety, placement breakdown, and disrupted education as a result. 

Health services show similar weaknesses. Significant delays exist in autism and ADHD assessments. Some children wait over two years for diagnosis or for medication when needed. Early child-developmental checks are being missed because the system depends too much on parents to book them, and many are not completed. 

Ofsted has made a number of recommendations. Southampton’s partnership needs to improve joint working across education, health and social care; make EHC plans more detailed, precise, reviewed regularly; reduce waiting times for diagnostic assessments; ensure children receive mandated health checks; and strengthen transition planning so young people are better prepared for life after school.

The overall conclusion is that children with SEND in Southampton receive variable experiences: some excellent, some falling short. The leadership has strong ambition and several promising initiatives, but many of these are still only in early stages. If improvements aren’t made, vulnerable children will continue to fall behind.

Read the full report here:
Area SEND inspection report of Southampton (May 2024)