Sheffield Council is taking too long to improve services for city's disabled children

An inspection in November 2018 found seven areas of weakness in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

Council bosses say improvements have been made but not quickly enough or to the standard expected.

In a report, director of Legal and Governance Gillian Duckworth said: “Substantial work has taken place and improvements made but not at the pace anticipated.

“The continued and substantial growth in demand within the city at all levels has meant that whilst improvements have been made, pressures remain.

“This includes demand for specialist provision, pressure from schools who do not feel equipped or able to meet individual needs, and growing pressures on health and therapy services.

“Services continue to work to improvement plans and will progress these further over the next 12 months against the backdrop of Covid.”

Coun Mohammed Mahroof told a scrutiny meeting that he was greatly concerned.

“I’ve had quite a lot of casework around SEND which is quite alarming and I think it’s something that we really need to look at and speed up the process because we’re failing to meet the needs of people who need help desperately.

“This impacts on the life chances of children and it’s terribly important for them to have some sort of decent education but unfortunately that’s not been forthcoming.

“This is a substantial issue, especially if you’re a family that’s actually affected by it. Parents have been put in some really awkward positions where they’re basically having to teach the children at home, or they can’t teach them because they don’t have the skills and there are issues that they can’t deal with which need professional people.

“It’s hugely critical for all of us as members to be aware of this and to make sure the people that we represent get the service that they so rightly deserved.

“I think we should have a report coming back fairly soon because 18 months on, I’m asking the same question.”

Due to Covid, SEND inspections by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have been temporarily paused. A return visit by inspectors due in November will not take place and it’s not yet clear when it will happen.

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