To receive an update on the Ofsted - Shropshire Area Thematic Visit and identify areas that may require further investigation by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee. [Summary note attached]

Contact: David Shaw - Director of Children's Services & Natasha Moody - Families First Partnership (FFP) Strategic Lead.

Natasha Moody, Families First Partnership (FFP) Strategic Lead, presented the findings of the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission SEND thematic visit, which reviewed the effectiveness of Shropshire’s SEND arrangements. Inspectors found strong strategic leadership, partnership working and a clear commitment to inclusion, with leaders demonstrating a good understanding of local needs and performance challenges. However, they noted that improvements made at a strategic level were not yet being consistently felt by children and families.

Inspectors also praised practitioner engagement and the work of SENDIASS, although feedback from parents indicated that they did not always feel fully involved in decision-making. While services were found to be inclusive and supported by knowledgeable staff, families reported that the local offer could be difficult to navigate and that personal relationships often helped them access support more effectively than digital information alone. Inspectors concluded that the partnership was moving in the right direction and encouraged continued progress in governance, communication and inclusion.

Questions from members focused on issues discussed in conjunction with the SEND Reform Plan.

The Vice-Chairman asked how the Council would secure enough Educational Psychologists to support the reforms without increasing reliance on agency staff. Natasha Moody advised that recruitment remained a national challenge and that the Council was developing its own workforce through trainee and assistant Educational Psychologist roles. She also highlighted the need to promote Shropshire as an attractive place to live and work. David Shaw added that regional work was underway to manage agency costs, expand training opportunities and lobby Government to increase national recruitment pathways.

Members welcomed the emphasis placed on personal relationships and direct engagement with families rather than relying solely on digital systems. It was suggested that Government workforce policies were restricting recruitment pools for specialist roles and therefore proposed that the concerns be raised with national policymakers. The Chairman supported the principle of seeking reassurance regarding future workforce availability and recruitment challenges and agreed with Councillor Houghton’s suggestion to review workforce recruitment and retention progress across both Adults' and Children's Services in 12 months' time.

Members queried whether sufficient outreach support was available in schools to identify and respond to SEND needs before specialist placements were required. Natasha Moody advised that the reform plan included enhanced outreach from special schools and support to build expertise within mainstream settings. While teacher recruitment was generally stable, challenges remained in recruiting teaching assistants, particularly in rural areas. David Shaw highlighted successful initiatives such as the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme and emphasised the importance of monitoring workforce capacity as the reforms progressed.

Members emphasised the importance of listening directly to children and young people, citing an example of a young person whose engagement improved once provision reflected their interests and aspirations. Natasha Moody agreed and highlighted the development of the Young Ambassadors programme, which would help ensure children's voices informed future decision-making. She also outlined the role of SENDIASS, the Parent Carer Forum and wider engagement activities, including the forthcoming "Big Listen" events, which would gather feedback directly from children, young people and families. David Shaw added that feedback from children and young people did not always mirror the views of parents and carers, reinforcing the importance of hearing directly from young people themselves.

The Chairman sought further information on the benefits realisation framework within the reform plan and sought clarification regarding governance arrangements and the role of the Children's Ambition Board. Natasha Moody advised that a framework was being developed to monitor savings, reinvestment and service improvements and would be brought back to the Committee to support future scrutiny. She explained that strategic oversight sat with the Children's Ambition Board, chaired by the Chief Executive and responsible for driving wider ambitions to make Shropshire a more child-friendly County. David Shaw added that governance arrangements would continue to evolve alongside wider discussions about the Health and Wellbeing Board and partnership structures.

Members asked about the financial impact of the planned end of the statutory override and future SEND deficits. Natasha Moody advised that detailed financial modelling formed part of the reform plan and would be considered by the Finance and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She noted that alternative options would be explored if government support was not secured. David Shaw added that the statutory override had been extended while national SEND reforms and funding arrangements continued to be developed.

The Committee noted the significant implications of the SEND Reform Plan and requested ongoing updates on workforce capacity, benefits realisation, performance and the involvement of children and families. In relation to the Ofsted Thematic Visit, members welcomed the positive findings on partnership working, leadership and inclusion, while recognising the need to improve family engagement, access to the local offer and outcomes for children and young people. Future scrutiny will continue to focus on performance, governance and lived experiences.