Haringey Council's special needs services given top rating by inspectors

Send children and their families in Haringey said to “benefit from a culture of listening, flexibility and cooperation from professionals”

Haringey Council's offices at Alexandra House in Wood Green

Haringey Council has received a top rating for delivering high-quality services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) following a joint inspection.

In the inspection report published this week by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it was concluded that the voices and opinions of Send children’s families “are heard and acted on” by leaders who “are ambitious and focused on improving the lives of children and young people”.

The council works closely with NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and partners across the education, health and care sector, to plan, commission and deliver Send services.

Commending those services, the inspectors wrote: “Children and young people with Send and their families benefit from a culture of listening, flexibility and cooperation from professionals who support their best interests. The outcomes and experiences of the most vulnerable are central to planning and decision-making in Haringey.”

Reacting to the report, council leader Peray Ahmet said: “We are really pleased with the findings of the Ofsted report. I want to praise the efforts of all our staff, partners and families who are dedicated to nurturing positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people with Send. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and support for every individual in our community.

“While we have much to celebrate, we recognise that our work is ongoing and that for some families, their experience is not a positive one. We will continue to build on our strengths and focus in on the areas that need improvement. Our goal is to ensure that every child and young person with Send reaches their full potential and that families receive the support they require.”

The inspection was carried out over three weeks in late January and early February this year. It concludes that services “typically lead to positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people with Send” – representing the highest rating possible under a new inspection framework introduced in 2023.

Parents and carers from Haringey SEND Power, the borough’s forum for families, have provided mutual support and advocated for improved services with the council, alongside Elevate Youth which empowers young people with Send to shape services from within.

Inspectors said that “multi-agency working flourishes in Haringey” and found “considerable improvements” in key areas since the last inspection in 2021 and commended the “commitment to co-production” of services with children, young people and families.

Tim Miller, assistant director of Place for Haringey at the NHS North Central London ICB, said: “We are delighted by the Send inspection report’s positive findings. This reflects our strong partnership working and the commitment shown by staff in the NHS. Haringey’s children and young people should receive the help and support they need and deserve.

“Our priorities now are to continue to improve information and engagement and access to health services and to reduce waiting times so the experiences and outcomes of children, young people and their families continues to improve.”

Other strengths highlighted in the report include professionals across the partnership working “creatively to address the rising numbers of children and young people with Send” and the voices of Send children being heard “very clearly” through education, health and care plans (EHCPs).

Inspectors also recommended three areas where further improvements could be made, including “ensuring individual plans for adulthood are discussed across agencies from an earlier age”, “ensuring recent changes have a more positive impact on a greater proportion of children and young people” and that “leaders maintain the pace and traction around timely access to health services”.

The council says these recommendations will be incorporated within the local area Send and inclusion plan which outlines a range of areas of focus and priorities to deliver over the next year.

For more information about Send services in Haringey:
Visit haringey.gov.uk/children-and-families/local-offer

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