Dad calls for investigation into Barnsley SEND inspection report
An inspection of Barnsley’s support for children and young people with special needs and disabilities has sparked anger from parents.
Jonathan Wainwright, 48, an ex-teacher and father of three, was born and raised in Barnsley.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
He spoke of his disbelief after the inspection report was published by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
“I laughed. It was almost a hysteria. The emotion was so far away from the expectation that we would find some kind of accountability in the system,” he said.
“I just thought ‘this cannot be someone’s interpretation’.”
Mr Wainwright is the father to 16-year-old William, known as Billy, who suffered developmental regression when he was 18-months-old, and is also diagnosed as autistic.
As a teacher, Mr Wainwright, worked with over-14s who had special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
He is calling on the new Reform-led council to carry out an investigation into the report, which he says is not reflective of the SEND support in Barnsley.
“The Reform leader at the council has come out and praised this work. He has gone against all the principles of what Reform said it was about, which was looking into dodgy councils that have run ragged over the constituents for years and years,” he said.
“They said they’d come in and get rid of the corruption. Then this has landed on his doorstep, and he can either leave it or listen to the people and investigate.”
Mr Wainwright said the previous Labour council under Sir Steve Houghton failed to help SEND children and families.
“The leaving Labour Party Council is just throwing the kitchen sink and trying to pass an inspection rather than increase the quality of service delivery,” he said.
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council celebrated the report outcome, hailing it ‘top marks’.
Under the new grading system for these reports, an inspector said: “The local area partnership’s SEND arrangements typically lead to positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The local area partnership is taking action where improvements are needed.”
In their announcement about the inspection report, the council said that inspectors had found the following strengths:
- Most children and young people have their needs identified early and accurately, across education, health and social care.
- Families benefit from strong early help, with professionals working together to ensure needs are met effectively.
- Children and young people access a wide range of responsive health services, including specialist school nursing and targeted support while waiting for autism, ADHD or mental health assessments.
- Co‑production is strong, with parents, carers, and young people actively shaping services and the local offer.
- Transitions into adulthood are well supported, with joined‑up assessments and planning.
- Clear partnership working across education, health and social care ensures personalised support for children and young people with the most complex needs.
This report comes three months after Barnsley Council scrapped plans for two new SEND schools, as well as the recent passing of Willow-Tarriss Shannon Lynette Lee, known as Ollie, who took her own life.
She died in Barnsley in October 2024 after a struggle with her mental health, and was waiting for an assessment for autism at the time of her death.
Mr Wainwright said: “A child has died and that trumps everything. It’s heart-breaking. The council will not commission mental health services for children with special needs. They won’t do a pathway, we have begged them for the money.”
He is part of a Facebook forum for parents and carers of SEND children and young people.
In a recent poll on the page, 94 per cent of respondents said that the current SEND services in Barnsley were ‘an absolute joke’.
When contacted for comment on these claims, Barnsley Council said: "In our recent Local Area SEND inspection, inspectors recognised the typically positive experiences many children and young people have in Barnsley and we also know that some families raise issues with us which we continue to be committed to resolving.
"The inspection process itself is robust and includes a wide range of evidence, including engagement with children, young people, parents and carers, alongside professionals across education, health and care. The findings published reflect the inspectors’ independent judgement based on this evidence.
"We are committed to addressing the areas for improvement identified during the inspection and remain focused on continuing to improve services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND in Barnsley, working closely with families, schools, and our health partners."